[ESC] Very Particular Set of Skills

Adult sulcata tortoises are famously difficult to contain due to two of their natural talents:

1) Busting through walls like a wrecking ball

2) Digging 8-10 foot burrows underground 

The zoo wanted to allow the sulcatas to practice their natural burrowing behaviors within the exhibit, which also allows them to find shade and regulate temperature and moisture. To that end, there is plenty of deep sandy earth within the exhibit for them to dig in, but the perimeter of the exhibit has a cinderblock wall extending four feet underground. Much to keeper Steve's chagrin, the sulcatas found a spot where the back wall's foundation wasn't quite deep enough relative to the soil level and burrowed under it into the off-exhibit space. 

Submitted By bovidaeloony for The Great Escape
Submitted: 1 week ago ・ Last Updated: 1 week ago