Leak-detecting tortoise

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I have been researching the sense of smell in tortoises and turtles and came across this old news article:

Leakage-detecting tortoise is world's first

NWG - Leakage-detecting tortoise is world's first

www.nwg.co.uk

What do you think? I admit I had a little laugh reading the article

 

[jaizei]

I think the big difference between the dog mentioned and the turtle, is that it seemed like the dog was trained to detect the chlorine in tap water and not the water itself.

With the leaky toilet, did it say if it was an actual leak or was it just running? If the latter. I'd think it could be vibrations or flowing water the tortoise was interested in. Prob sme for a dripping tap.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think the big difference between the dog mentioned and the turtle, is that it seemed like the dog was trained to detect the chlorine in tap water and not the water itself.

With the leaky toilet, did it say if it was an actual leak or was it just running? If the latter. I'd think it could be vibrations or flowing water the tortoise was interested in. Prob sme for a dripping tap.

Yeah, they do seem do have a good sense of smell though (according to my very short research).

Also, just noticed I have a typo in my thread title...

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think the most interesting comment to me was this: "We have consulted with reptile experts across the globe to see if this is common, however it is believed that this trait is only found in younger Horsfield tortoises. "

Why would this be something younger Russian tortoises specifically have? Does it have any application in nature?

 

[Yvonne G]

My first thought was, "That poor tortoise must not have ready access to water and is very thirsty!"

 

[Anastasia 22]

My Russian boy sniffs everything new that I put in his enclosure....

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

My Russian boy sniffs everything new that I put in his enclosure....

Yeah, mine is really keen on sniffing too, especially outdoors and new foods.

 

[Anastasia 22]

Yeah, mine is really keen on sniffing too, especially outdoors and new foods.

My friends have a joke about him "Tortoise identifies as a dog".

 

[Oxalis]

At least twice my Russian has sniffed out a slug in the garden.

 

[Renee_H]

Meanwhile I’m celebrating that my tortoise finally learned to walk up her ramp into her house instead of trying to get back in through the wall next to said ramp/door.