We Know it's Almost Summer: Giant Tortoises on the Move at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

• Posted at 1:20 pm on May 27, 2010 by turkatthezoo
• In Animals & Exhibits Comments: 1

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's three male Aldabra tortoises -- Tom, Tim and Terry -- moved to their summer exhibit outside of the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building on Saturday, May 22. Check out exactly what it takes to move these very large and heavy (and slow) reptiles.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's three male Aldabra tortoises -- Tom, Tim and Terry -- moved to their summer exhibit at the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building on Saturday, May 22. All three tortoises were located in the Center for Zoological Medicine for the winter, but with the summer months upon us they were able to be moved outside to enjoy their summertime exhibit.

Before each tortoise was transported to its summer exhibit, animal keepers weighed Tim, Tom, and Terry. Multiple animal keepers were needed to help lift the heavy reptiles onto the scale for their weigh-ins. Tom was the heaviest at 422 lbs, Tim weighed in at 419 lbs, and Terry was at 356 lbs.

This summer will be "Terry's" first at the Zoo, even though he has technically been here since 1955. That is because Terry was thought to be a female known as Mary. Terry, along with Tim and Tom will now enjoy the warm weather or cool off in their muddy wallows.