Found a tortoise in my yard in abu dhabi

[Atie]

Hi, I found this tortoise in my yard. Can someone help me idetify it and how do I care for it. Is it best that I let it go and if I let it go can it survive the summer heat here? Thank you

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks like it might be a little Kleinmanni (egyptian) tortoise that's been through a heck of a lot. @Markw84 ??

 

[Yvonne G]

Give him a nice drink. I'll bet he needs it.

 

[Markw84]

That is a Testudo graeca. Not sure of the subspecies. By location and a bit by looks (but a bit lighter than I'd expect) possibly T. g. zarudnyi ?? Let's see what Chris thinks @HermanniChris as those are pretty rare here or in the pet trade, but found fairly close to where the posting individual is located.

 

[wellington]

All I can help with is to leave it be if it is indeed native to where you live. As Yvonne said give it some water first.

 

[Atie]

How does the tortoise survive the summer heat? It goes up to 45 degrees celcius here. Do they dig burrows? Thank you for the advice. We have let it roam the yard again after giving it some water.

 

[HermanniChris]

It’s a T. graeca terrestris and they often survive in that kind of heat by aestivating. Could be a released pet.

 

[jsheffield]

Some stories inside that shell....

J