Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise

Since our Indian start tortoise, Butti, went missing yesterday we have received a lot of questions about the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. Here are the facts!


Butti, who lives in The Loft at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, went missing on Sunday, March 27, 2011.

--Turtles primarily live in water (fresh water and oceans) and so have webbed front feet or flipper-like fins to make swimming easier.

--Tortoises live almost exclusively on land, so do not have flippers, but normal feet without webbing, often with sharp claws for digging. They only enter water to drink or wash themselves off, and can in fact drown in strong currents. They may be found in arid areas.

--Turtles tend to have flatter shells than tortoises, while tortoises have a more domed shell.

--Turtles can be omnivorous, eating both plants and insects, while tortoises are herbivores, eating only plants and leaves and other vegetation, so they are herbivorous, especially preferring moisture-bearing vegetation.



Butti and brother, Tutti, in their exhibit in the Loft, prior to Butti's disappearance. They are Indian star tortoises.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO BELIEVES MISSING TORTOISE STOLEN

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo appeals for return of tortoise, which requires special care.



March 28, 2011, Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is appealing to the public for the safe return of Butti, a 13-year-old Indian star tortoise, zoo officials believe was stolen Sunday, March 27. Staff last saw Butti in his exhibit in The Loft around 4:30 p.m. When Butti’s keeper went back to check on him at 4:45 p.m., he was missing. Staff frantically scoured The Loft and swept the zoo, but the search turned up nothing. Staff reported there were several guests in The Loft shortly before Butti disappeared.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is concerned for Butti’s welfare, as he has special care and dietary needs. If he isn’t kept at the proper temperature and doesn’t receive the right type of food, he could suffer from significant health problems.

“This type of tortoise is not uncommon in the pet trade. We think someone probably thought the tortoise looked interesting and is planning to keep him as a pet, but we’re worried Butti won’t receive proper care,” said Katie Borremans, Public Relations Manager.

Butti and his brother, Tutti, are guest favorites at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They have been together their whole lives and are frequently seen following each other around their exhibit. The zoo did file a police report, but is most concerned about Butti’s return. Charges will not be filed if he is returned safely. Please call 719.633.9925 x140 with any information on this incident.

The Loft has seen more than one million visitors since it opened in 2008, and has never had an animal stolen. The Loft is a place where guests can interact and connect with animals in a more open environment. Guests are able to see animals like Butti up close and even touch them under staff supervision.

“Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s mission is to provide up close experiences and make animals accessible to the public. It’s a shame someone took advantage of that. We’ve never had something like this happen before, and we certainly don’t want to penalize guests who respect the boundaries because of one bad seed,” said Borremans.

Butti is around the size of a grapefruit. He’s about six inches long and weighs a little over a pound. He has a unique shell with a bumpy star pattern.

Wild Animals Caught on Candid Camera!

The Smithsonian has a new website dedicated to the "camera trap" photography being done during studies of wildlife all around the world - they have 201,000 photos arranged by species - you can look up your favorite animal and see it caught on "candid camera" ! Hope you enjoy this as much as we do at the Zoo!

Fun Facts about Naked Mole Rats! NMRs in the news!

Wild and Weird: Naked Mole Rats Handsome? No. Cancer-free? Yes.

Naked mole rats win no beauty contests. With their pale, pruny pelts, buckteeth and tiny, beady eyes, they’re cute to few and cuddly to none but each other. They have strange biology, too -- feeling little pain in their skin and dwelling in smelly, underground colonies like insects. Plus, young naked mole rats eat nothing but the feces of adults. The most intriguing thing about the mole rats, though, may be longevity: “Old Man,” the most ancient naked mole rat known to humankind, died last November at the ripe old age of 32. Naked mole rats routinely live almost 10 times longer than their above-ground cousins.

One reason naked mole rats enjoy such long lives? They've never been known to get cancer -- in contrast with mice, 70 percent of whom perish from the disease at just a few years of age. In fact, naked mole rats may prove as valuable as mice in finding a cure for cancer. That beats winning a beauty contest any day.

Read more on this intriguing species in The Washington Post.

Bookmark the Zoo's "Events Calendar"...not to miss in March events!

Wondering what is happening at the Zoo? Be sure to bookmark our events calendar or save in your favorites! It's the easiest way to check what's going on at the zoo "at a glance."

NOT TO MISS IN MARCH:
March 21-25, Monday - Friday
Spring Break Give-A-Way Days - follow us on Facebook

March 25 & 26, Friday & Saturday
Red Ape Rally Days

March 26, Saturday
Moonlight Safari "Family Night" (register online)

March 26 or 27, Saturday or Sunday
Family Program SPECIAL "Zootastic Re-creations"(register online)