If you answered “A. Islands in the Indian Ocean” to this Tuesday’s trivia question you are correct! Aldabra tortoises are native to grasslands, scrublands, mangrove swamps and coastal dunes of the arid, hot Aldabra Islands in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar.
These large tortoises are the last surviving species of the Giant Island Tortoises of the Indian Ocean. While other giant tortoises were killed for food, the Aldabra tortoises survived because their island was not near the main shipping route.
Since these tortoises aren't fond of being outside during the cold, blustry Ozark winters, Dickerson Park Zoo is building a new tortoise building to house them during the winter months. This approximately 1,070-square foot building will house the tortoises and allow visitor viewing of the animals through glass windows. The exhibit rooms will have water pools and a sand pit for potential egg-laying by the females. The floors will be covered by a special rubber-cushioned flooring for the comfort and health of the animals. You'll want to be sure to stop by and see the tortoises's new winter residence when it opens in the fall of 2012.
Congratulations to Donna Miner from Pittsburg, Kan., whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!
Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!
Comments