Editor's note: For an entire month starting August 17, CGTN will be bringing this year's Great Wildebeest Migration to your living room with our new series "Digital Safari." Let's jump onboard and get to know more about these amazing wild animals and the wonderful nature.
The leopard tortoise, which gets its name from the patterns on its shell that resembles the leopard, is one of the largest tortoises in the world. The sizable tortoise is native to Ethiopia, South Africa and Somalia. In the wild they can live between 50 and 100 years. And just like other tortoises, the leopard tortoise is slow and quiet, a good-natured animal in general.
The leopard tortoise. /VCG
Leopard tortoises are herbivores. They mainly eat plants such as vegetables, grasses, fruits and berries. In order to obtain some calcium, leopard tortoises also eat some bones.
The tortoises, who do not have protective scutes above the neck, are capable of climbing, floating on water, even swimming. They have elephantine legs with impressive claws. Females leopard tortoises are usually larger than males. In the wild, the animal achieves sexual maturity at about 15.
A baby leopard tortoise. /VCG
Leopard tortoises. /VCG
A baby leopard tortoise. /VCG
One important thing to note is never pick up a leopard tortoise during winter, as one might cause it to die of dehydration by making it eject stored water as a defense mechanism.
According to IUCN's Red List, the leopard tortoise is listed as a species of least concern. But it doesn't mean that there are no threats to the animal. Pet-trade, electric fences and overdevelopment of its habitat all pose threats to the life of the leopard tortoise.
For more:
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