Giant Tortoises at the Greensboro Science Center

On Monday, we visited the Greensboro Science Center, which has an outdoor zoo area called Animal Discovery in addition to the SciQuarium mentioned in my previous article http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/08/penguins-at-greensboro-science-center.html . One of the animals housed in this outdoor exhibit is the giant tortoise. The Greensboro Science Center has two kinds of tortoise, the Aldabra and the African Spur Thigh. 

There are several turtles in the exhibit, and although they aren't quite as huge as, say, the Galapagos tortoise, they are pretty sizable--MUCH bigger than anything you will find crossing the road, that's for sure! (I always stop to help tortoises cross the road, and I hope you do, too). According to Wikipedia, the Aldabra tortoise is powerful enough to knock trees over while foraging, but no worries: they're vegetarians, and you could outrun them, anyway! 

One of the Aldabra tortoises relaxing in the pool. Note the distinctly saddle-shaped shell. Aldabra tortoises are named for their place of origin, the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles islands. I think he's cute! 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Photos are my own. (c) Ali E. McCartney