The Tortoise Trust Guide to Tortoises & Turtles

Product Information

In 2019 we contributed the chapter on tortoise care and welfare to the prestigious professional reference book ‘Companion Animal Care and Welfare: The UFAW Companion Animal Handbook (UFAW Animal Welfare Series)’, which is used by animal care professionals all over the world. This included updated information based upon our own latest research. join today, via our secure online membership system. Possibly volunteer as a potential foster carer. Learn all you possibly can about tortoises and turtles. If you are enthusiastic and dedicated, you may well be fortunate enough to help a tortoise to a good home before too long. We are sorry, but we cannot recommend buying tortoises from dealers or shops under any circumstances, so please do not ask us for a "recommended dealer". Also note that due to the vast number of enquiries we receive on this subject, we cannot provide further information over the telephone within Europe without a special permit. Trade collecting, import and sale of wild tortoises of these species is prohibited totally.

Over the years since we began, we have carried out extensive fieldwork and continue to develop new and improved methods to enhance the conservation and welfare of Chelonia. By subscribing to our newsletter and other publications, you help this work to continue. Thank you.for rescued or confiscated animals. These are looked after by volunteer members. Naturally, we are always pleased to hear of new volunteers, but we do stress that the waiting list in many cases is quite long. More people want tortoises than animals are available. The Tortoise Trust re-homing scheme does not involve fees of any sort - but we do insist that potential foster homes meet strict standards and that the members concerned have attained a very good standard of technical knowledge . Courses are We launched highly effective campaigns against supermarkets such that were directly involved in cruelty to turtles and in the illegal exploitation of endangered species in China. We also warned about the potential for pandemic diseases arising from the unhygienic and inhumane conditions in wildlife markets. We were again proven right.

In 2015 we published details of a totally new outdoor housing system that takes advantage of natural UV-B and WiRa (water-filtered-infrared-A) to reduce reliance upon artificial heat and light sources, even in northern climates, saving energy and providing near-natural basking conditions. We call this system the 'Climate Frame' terrarium.Over the summer of 2009 we conducted the most extensive tests of vivarium systems for tortoises ever conducted and highlighted the many failings of enclosed housing. This was instrumental in getting dangerous products withdrawn from the market and in developing advice to trading standards and animal welfare officers, hopefully reducing the casualties and suffering caused to thousands of tortoises as a result of improper housing.