Tortoise spa day! Our Radiated Tortoises are lining up for their new ‘carwash’.
There’s been a slow-and-steady stomp of activity in our tortoise enclosure recently – from colourful shell touch-ups to the grand opening of their brand-new ‘carwash’! No, our tortoises aren’t learning to drive, but they are enjoying some seriously stylish shell care and enrichment, all thanks to student Eve and her fascinating honours project at Newquay University Centre.
Under the expert supervision of Dr Kathy Baker, Research Coordinator at Newquay Zoo, Eve is studying whether enrichment affects social interactions among our critically endangered Madagascan radiated tortoises. Reptiles are often overlooked when it comes to sensory enrichment, with much of the research focusing on mammals and birds. This project is helping to change that, adding valuable insight into how enrichment can benefit tortoises and encouraging more zoos and conservationists to explore creative ways to keep reptiles engaged and stimulated. And let’s just say, our tortoises are absolutely loving their new sensory carwash!
A colourful way to tell who’s who!
To keep track of our tortoises (and to make sure they’re looking their best), we recently gave their nail varnish identification dots a fresh top-up. Each tortoise has its own unique colour combination – see if you can match them up on your next visit:
- Mr Brown – Yellow & Blue
- Mr White – Yellow & Green
- Henrietta – Blue & Purple
- Missing Skewticle – Yellow & Purple
- Mr Crinkly Shell – Green & Blue
- Mika – Red & Yellow
- Mrs Blue – Red & Green
- Lottie – Red & Purple
- Chevron – Blue & Red
Introducing… the tortoise carwash!
So, what exactly is a tortoise carwash? It’s a fun new enrichment feature made from bristly broom heads, designed to provide a sensory experience for our slow-moving superstars. Tortoises have nerve endings in their shells, and they love the feeling of rubbing up against textured surfaces – a bit like a back scratcher for humans!
Since its installation, our tortoises have been queuing up to use it, happily shimmying their way through the bristles. It’s wonderful to see them so engaged, and Eve’s project will help us understand whether this kind of enrichment encourages more social interactions between them. Who knew tortoises could be so sociable?
Why It Matters
Our Madagascan radiated tortoises may be small, but their conservation story is huge. These incredible reptiles are critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. Every little thing we can do to enrich their lives in zoos, while also raising awareness about their plight in the wild, helps protect the future of their species. Click here to learn more about our amazing Madagascan Radiated Tortoises.
So next time you visit, be sure to stop by and watch them enjoy their tortoise spa treatment – and don’t forget to check out the colour-coding to see who’s who! Keep an eye on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for adorable videos of their latest adventures. Book your next visit to see them playing here.
