Yuanlin City, Taiwan - A small Sulcata tortoise, with a carapace (belly shell) of just 6 centimeters, was found abandoned in front of an animal hospital in Yuanlin City after being bitten on its front legs by its owner's hamster. The owner left a note with the tortoise, pleading for medical assistance.
The animal hospital staff took the injured tortoise to a specialized exotic animal hospital for treatment. Currently, the tortoise is under the care of the Changhua County Animal Disease Control Center. According to the Center, if the owner does not claim the tortoise, they will face a fine.
The Changhua County Animal Disease Control Center reported that the Sulcata tortoise suffered bites to both front legs but is now recovering well. The Center is working with the police to review surveillance footage in an attempt to locate the owner and notify them to reclaim their pet. If the owner remains unidentified or does not come forward, they could face a fine ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under the Animal Protection Act. After a public announcement, the tortoise will be put up for adoption.
The animal hospital in Yuanlin City posted on Facebook that on the evening of the 9th, around 8 PM, an owner left the tortoise at the hospital entrance with a letter and then left. The letter explained that the Sulcata tortoise was accidentally bitten by the family's greedy hamster, who had trespassed into its enclosure. The owner pleaded with the doctors to have mercy and save the tortoise, noting its inability to walk and expressing sympathy for its condition. The letter was signed "Tortoise Owner."
However, as the animal clinic primarily treats dogs and cats, they requested on Facebook that the owner quickly retrieve the tortoise. When the owner did not appear by the morning of the 10th, the hospital staff transported the tortoise to a special pet hospital for treatment. The tortoise, along with its medication, was then handed over to the Changhua County Animal Disease Control Center.
The Changhua County Animal Disease Control Center also posted on Facebook, stating that the 6-centimeter Sulcata tortoise is now safely housed and receiving ongoing treatment. They thanked the hospital for their assistance in sending the tortoise to a specialized exotic animal hospital and urged the original owner to reclaim their pet as soon as possible, encouraging them not to abandon their beloved animal and to face their responsibilities.
According to the Animal Disease Control Center, the Sulcata tortoise is the third-largest tortoise species in the world. They are about 5 to 8 centimeters long at birth and can grow to over 20 centimeters within a few years. Many people in Taiwan keep them as pets, and they are also bred locally. A baby tortoise can cost several thousand Taiwan dollars. However, Sulcata tortoises are not easy to care for, often requiring heating in cold weather, and they can be quite destructive to their surroundings. As a result, they are often abandoned. The Center urges the public to carefully consider the responsibilities involved before acquiring one as a pet.
