Five giant tortoises find shell-ter in Leeds

This comes as Tropical World receives official accreditation by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), after being screened by experts earlier this year. The mark of excellence recognises the high quality of the zoo in animal welfare, conservation, education and research.

The sulcata tortoise, with a life expectancy of over 70 years, is the largest mainland tortoise in the world and the third largest overall.

The group of tortoises, referred to as a ‘creep’, were moved from Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire to Leeds’s Tropical World this week, where they were given their new names - Tank, Scoop, Dizzy, Roley and Muck.

Abigail Hardwick, animal officer at Tropical World, said: “They all have coloured markings on their shells so we know who is who. Tank is the biggest male and the most boisterous, he can often be seen pushing the other boys out of the way to be first to the food bowls.

“They’re all settling in well!”

A beast of a tortoise, sulcata tortoises have no real known predators as adults, due to their large shell and average weight, which is around 80kg for a male.

Usually living along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, the species is classed as endangered. Desertification, where land turns into desert, caused by climate change, is leading to habitat loss and competition for food.

Also a newcomer at Tropical World is a Victoria crowned pigeon called Roger. The largest pigeon species in the world, it is named after Queen Victoria.

One of the UK's largest indoor tropical rainforest visitor attractions, Tropical World has been welcoming guests since 1988. The popular zoo is comprised of seven zones which all replicate a tropical environment from around the world.

Tropical World is already home to meerkats, pygmy marmosets (the world’s smallest type of monkey), and emperor tamarin monkeys, as well as many different kinds of reptiles, butterflies and insects. 

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “The tortoises are very impressive to look at, and we’re glad to have been able to give them a new home at Tropical World. It’s a great attraction where there’s much to learn about all the different species and the important conservation work that the staff do. Receiving the accredited status from BIAZA is also a testament to the passion and hard work of all the staff members.”

Read more about Tropical World at https://tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/.