Creature Feature #205: Elongated Tortoise

The Elongated Tortoise is named for his shell, which is twice as long as it is deep. He occurs naturally in Southeast and South Asia where he lives in humid teak forests, but has also found his way into the pet industry. He does not thrive in cold climates, and tortoises transported into Europe and North America will often die unless provided with special indoor care. His diet is predominently vegetarian, although he also eats snails, meat and eggs. In the wild he is endangered, with thousands of tortoises being shipped into Chinese food markets and others being smuggled out and into the pet trade. There is also constant pressure and habitat destruction as humans encroach on his range.