Ladysmith snake expert goes after ‘runaway’ Leopard Tortoise
Fanie quickly went to pick up the tortoise and kept it safely until it was reunited with its owner
A beautiful Leopard Tortoise was found at the corner of Schoon Street and Harrismith Road earlier today (November 16).
Bystanders contacted local snake expert Fanie Cilliers to come and pick up the slow-moving runaway that had escaped from someone’s yard.
Fanie obliged and kept the creature safe until it was reunited with its owner.
Speaking to Fanie, he said tortoises are wild animals and do not belong in captivity. He added that it’s important to note that all tortoise species in South Africa are protected by the law.
Also read: Yet another massive Mozambique Spitting Cobra removed from a house in Ladysmith
According to Fanie, most tortoises are kept illegally. They were evidently once smuggled out of the Kruger National Park and that is where the illegal pet trade started. Once they breed in captivity, their owners give away or sell the babies.
Fanie ended off by saying that permits to keep these animals are done through Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, where numbers, sex, age and quantity of young are recorded on databases.
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