androze
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Large boy holds still for scritches
The Aldabra torts really love attention, especially having their long necks rubbed. You can see they stretch out to full height and sit very still for pets or baths. Banana for scale. And yes he got to eat it for being such a good model.
Like many of you I've been watching the Olympians compete in Pyeongchang and I realized something amazing: the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, more than a few generations ago right? Zoo records show OJ was born in 1892. This rad dude was already four years old then, and he's lived long enough be in selfies! Or shellfies, rather. How cool is that?
Side note, I've been playing with the idea of sketching out some of my work stories into some sort of comic format. There's rarely a dull day at the zoo and I love cataloging these strange, memorable moments so I've been sketching out bits like this for practice. I'm more biologist than artist so I have a lot of room for improvement. Let me know if there's interest in seeing more Zoo Tales like these!
oshodatwan
Lady, you’re a gem
XB0XYGEN
shellboi
MrFrogNo3
I get it! I work with aldabs too
ifyouoralovedonehavebeendiagnosedwithmesotheliomayoumaybe
Imgur has taught me that absolutely everything like scritches.
lethaldoobie
armored doggo
Renegades009
up vote cause YOU ARE PRETTY AF!!!!
potatote
Is this the Oakland zoo? If so, I’ve seen that turtle ❤️ I would love some of your stories and comics!
repsac
Mostly upvoting for the tortoise, but you're also cute AF so that only helps.
Squelchtone
You have to wonder if they have a good memory and if they think back to better times in their life
girlee702
I would love to see more of your work adventures!
LokiShade
Yeah @androze your posts are always cool, comics would be fun!
theitinerantnaturalist
@TheMajesticHarpyEagle
TheMajesticHarpyEagle
Just seent dis.
5inthepoo
I would very much enjoy scratching that Large Boys chin
byobob
Yasss @OP I needed this, thank you! Please send more stories and comics, your drawing is great!
CardBoardSL
Tortoises look amazing. And the work story comics sounds fun!
calvinblanes
Holy shit you are beautiful
ImgurTRZ
Adorable! I would be afraid it's gonna snap and bite my hand refuses to let go. You two really trust each other!
adriedupoldprune
I got to work with them as a teen at our local zoo. They are super gentle.
JakeRoads
The answer is YES.
YourLocalMessiah
More comics and works stories please!
Fishammer
Agreed! I would love to have more of this.
mratio
Yes please, @androze please continue ;)
lozza123
javajim
Slower, you slut!
RipCrab
Yesss thank you
LoganRichardson25
There it is
javajim
Occideo
Holy shit it's Morla https://youtu.be/1M_wR9UEKos
Schnerfle
Occideo
That left me traumatised as a kid!
Schnerfle
Not gunna lie, me too
worldsokayestspeler
Do tortoises bite people? Also, would it have a lot of force? They look like they have a set of chompers on em.
DEAFBANDIT
I've been around smaller ones and they bite toes if your little toes look like berries.
reathien
Giants torts like this can bite, but what’s cool is they have a natural response to hold still when their neck is touched, so birds 1/?
reathien
Can remove parasites from their skin. It comes in handy when giving scratches - although if one did bite you by accident, it would 2/?
reathien
Go right through your hand - they have incredible bite force and I’ve seen a careless caretaker lose his finger while feeding! 3/3
worldsokayestspeler
Damn thanks for the in depth response. They look so slow when they bite things that i figured it wouldnt cause a lot of damage
SaturnBaby
Zoo tales! Zoo tales! Zoo takes!!! As an aspiring zoo keeper, I would LOVE MORE!!!
reathien
Really? Imgur always feels super anti-Zoo whenever things like sea world or circuses get brought up.
SaturnBaby
Every practice has its demons. Sea World did some shitty things, to me- jury is still out on circuses. But SW is trying to do good now.
SaturnBaby
And so are MANY zoos. Standards have been set by groups like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to make sure animals are treated well and
SaturnBaby
Aren’t taken from the wild or exploited. Most animals in zoos are used in breeding programs to prevent extinction. They serve as ambassadors
SaturnBaby
I am VERY pro-zoo if they have accreditation and make efforts to help conservation and protection.
ThisIsMyUsernameFuckOff
My mom has a tortoise sanctuary in our back yard, we call it the tort fort
mynameisbucky
A tortoise is my dream pet. Can you make a post about it?
Snooj
When one goes away and then comes back hopefully you say "What a fine retort".
amb3cog
Yes! Lol
stripedpajamasquid
Added to my list of life goals.
lordofthetorts
And I'm its lord.
SweatshirtJones
Best comment I've seen today
shitpostiere
How do the tortoises know it's there? Do you have lots of tortoise foot traffic?
Greatdogmom
Upvote for proper banana scale usage!
DROlD
What if that banana is just very tiny?
CheetoStains
Never doubt the banana scale
MrDragonfyr
Up vote for the upvote
GameMakr24
Upvote for the upvoted upvote
Benjaminriker
1000th upvote.
wildebeestsarepeopletoo
Best I've ever seen!
Hypothesist
You the fucking best, you the fucking best You the best I ever had, best I ever had
Mockingbirb
NothingInMyPocketJustReallyHappyToSeeYou
DROlD
DetectiveSherlockHolmes
What's improper banana scale usage?
Greatdogmom
dont get me started on plantains and those itty bitty ones buddy!
ShyNynaeve
And people holding them far in front of the object, rendering the scale useless, due to perspective!
StuPidaisol
I'd be amused to see the banana in an entirely separate pic from the object.
lordofthetorts
bryanew710
I want more of this!
littleginsu
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/aldabra-tortoise-breeder.20408/
MetaSomma
I agree. Following in the hopes of seeing more!
mydamnkidsdontthinkimfunny
Here ya go, but it's kind of graphic
v
desbrd
I want more too!
ScienceFaction
Another unrealistic standard of beauty to live up to
youhaveadrumstickandyourbrainstopstickin
ButtFaceChase
https://youtu.be/1ZPQVs-y8oQ I had to do it
TheMaXX37
That is some good shit right there, I tell you what! +1
Nostradamuswaswrong
Stupid sexy tortoise.
PRDWRaven
Yeah, that girl is too gorgeous to be real.
Noyoudontknowmefromsomewhere
i hope to look that good when i’m 126 years old.
SinisterScienceLesbian
Well, skeletons do look pretty good.
MangoLassi
FooQuuxman
Look as good; you will not.
dflr
Is it safe to have your hand so close to its mouth? Or are they herbivores and won't bite your hand unless you slap him or something?
dflr
Also would it bite in slow-mo?
moon2A
They tend to do sort of a "wind up" before they actually bite down but obviously be careful
moon2A
Whined up* maybe...im honestly not sure lol
dflr
Is it a noise? Because then whined, I guess. If its a motion, its a wind up. :)
moon2A
Yea motion lol...i just was over thinking i guess thanks though
moon2A
Brain fart
SquirtleSquad420
They are herbivores. Also the island they come from they have no natural predators so they never really have to defend themselves.
dflr
Ahh. I guess I just have an irrational fear of all turtle-like things after hearing about snapping turtles.
SquirtleSquad420
snapping turtles are hate incarnate.
ifoundwaldo
especially Fred.
AmirGarib
Do you guys never get the urge to rub some nivea creme on their necks to see if it gets smoother?
Benjaminriker
300th upvote
Dahliaisahedgehog
I was assisting a vet with an alligator last night and that's exactly what I wanted to do. Moisturize it.
BrokeMyFunnyBone
This was my exact thought
mrjadexxxxxxx
I know it's a joke, but that isn't mammalian skin, so it wouldn't work at all, especially since the folds are just the skin that stretches
mrjadexxxxxxx
Out when it extends it's neck. Mammalian skin and testudine skin is very different. (They also shouldn't be reptiles but their own close!)
AmirGarib
I did not know that at all, thank you for enlighten me!
mrjadexxxxxxx
Clade dammit.
JudgeNotByTheColorOfOnesSkinButByTheContentsOfOnesDumps
Yes. Except I tried this on a human and I'm no longer allowed at grandma's house
3PiecesOfBread
You might have the best username in the history of usernames.
JudgeNotByTheColorOfOnesSkinButByTheContentsOfOnesDumps
Thanks that means a lot to me! :-D
counterfeitdreams
Well yeah rubbing lotion on grandma Jenner’s neck is pretty inappropriate
ConfuMeister
Or Grandpa Mike's dick .
nNotTheOne
Whoah