Every year, with the onset of warm weather, our tortoises move to a summer enclosure in the fresh air, which was built especially for them. Today, the biggest tortoise in our zoo moved to its summer home – a male African spurred tortoise named Marcus with his female friend of the same species.

The African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) is the largest of the continental land tortoises and the third largest in the world, after the Floreana giant tortoise (endemic to the Galapagos Islands) and the Aldabra giant tortoise (inhabitant of the Seychelles). The tortoise got its name from the hard spur-like growths on its hind legs.

Before Marcus and his girlfriend were placed in the summer enclosure, the tortoises were weighed on the large scales in the feed department. Now Marcus weighs 34 kg 400 g, the female is much smaller, her weight does not even reach 7 kg. Our tortoises are still very young and relatively small, but the maximum mass of spurred tortoises can reach 100 kg!

The tortoises are now very active, basking in the sun, eating fresh grass that has been specially planted in the enclosure.

The summer enclosure for tortoises is located near the entrance to the zoo, next to the administration building.