Wildlife Vet Get New Tortoise Rehabilitation Enclosure Thanks to Generous Donors

Photo Credit: Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital

The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital takes in all kinds of indigenous animals, many of which include the various tortoise species; they got a new enclosure recently, to house some of the smaller rescues.

Johannesburg, South Africa (24 April 2023) – The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital does so much for South African wildlife. Seeing them rewarded and aided in their efforts is a great joy indeed. Recently the Helderfontein Residential Estate sponsored a tortoise enclosure to help secure some of the smaller rescues that arrive at the vet.

The new enclosure features many spots for the tortoise patients to take shelter, lots of delicious succulents to snack on, and nice high walls to keep them secured in one spot.

The team was over the moon when the project was completed. It looks fabulous and is in the perfect spot for recovering tortoises. The team took some time to thank the Helderfontein Residential Estate for their efforts and show just how beautiful the enclosure it.

“SHOUT OUT to the Helderfontein Residential Estate for the sponsorship of this glorious area for the smaller of our tortoise patients! This spot is perfect for a balance of sun and shade, and offers a lovely little place for the tortoises to enjoy while under our care.”

Photo Credit: Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital

This isn’t the first time the Wildlife Vet has received a donation for local tortoises, last year, the bigger tortoises were gifted “kennels” (read cottages) in which they could take shelter.

There is a way you can give back to these hard-shelled (but soft-hearted) creatures too. The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital welcomes donations of food for the tortoises. They live on a diet of varied plants including the below:

Geraniums (Pelargoniums)
Spineless prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica)
Mother of pearl plant (or any of the Crassulacea family)
Spekboom (Portulacaria afra)
Heartleaf ice plant (Artesia cordiflora)
Varkore (or any of the Cotyledon family)
Spiny cucumbers/African horned cucumbers (Cucumber metuliferus)
any of the stone crop plants (Sedum family) would all be suitable

You can read more about how to donate food from your garden here.

The team treats indigenous wildlife free of charge, they rely of support from the incredible humans of South Africa and beyond. If you would like to support in some way, you can use the details mentioned above and below.

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