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Douglas may look like a turtle, albeit quite oversized. But he is no turtle. He’s a tortoise, an African spurred tortoise (sulcata tortoise) to be exact. The difference between the two has to do with water: turtles can swim a little or at least get to the side of the pond. But a tortoise cannot.
This tortoise weighs over 50 pounds, but there are larger tortoises; they can get up to 200 pounds. And one of them probably got the better of Douglas. He came to the Mountain Hospital for Animals when he was mauled and at death’s door. Dr. Nikita Viens and Dr. Chris Keller think he was probably in a fight with another tortoise, but can’t be sure. At any rate, he was terribly wounded and they actually wondered if he could possibly recover.
Thanks to the folks at MHA, including tech Hunter Kirk, Douglas is well on the way to recovery and has turned out to be a very chill dude. Initially coiled into his battered shell, he now pops his head out, turns it left and right and up and down, and fixes his eyes (previously unopened) at every single person or animal or thing possible.
He’s enjoying the fall weather as he is taken out for fresh air at the little grassy strip of land on Watauga, and yes, he stops a bit of traffic. If you happen to see a massive prehistoric creature resting under the grove of cherry trees, stop and say hi. Douglas is just taking it all in, and clearly grateful for the folks at Mountain Hospital for Animals.
by Ferris Robinson
This tortoise weighs over 50 pounds, but there are larger tortoises; they can get up to 200 pounds. And one of them probably got the better of Douglas. He came to the Mountain Hospital for Animals when he was mauled and at death’s door. Dr. Nikita Viens and Dr. Chris Keller think he was probably in a fight with another tortoise, but can’t be sure. At any rate, he was terribly wounded and they actually wondered if he could possibly recover.
Thanks to the folks at MHA, including tech Hunter Kirk, Douglas is well on the way to recovery and has turned out to be a very chill dude. Initially coiled into his battered shell, he now pops his head out, turns it left and right and up and down, and fixes his eyes (previously unopened) at every single person or animal or thing possible.
He’s enjoying the fall weather as he is taken out for fresh air at the little grassy strip of land on Watauga, and yes, he stops a bit of traffic. If you happen to see a massive prehistoric creature resting under the grove of cherry trees, stop and say hi. Douglas is just taking it all in, and clearly grateful for the folks at Mountain Hospital for Animals.
by Ferris Robinson
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