(Indotestudo elongata) from Cambodia.

[Henry-flash]

Really nice, well done. I know a couple of people who were breeding this species a couple of years back. I believe they destroy the eggs they get from their adults now as there was no demand for these and they ended up over run with hatchlings.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Henry-flash

Really nice, well done. I know a couple of people who were breeding this species a couple of years back. I believe they destroy the eggs they get from their adults now as there was no demand for these and they ended up over run with hatchlings.

No demand, for these very beautiful Asian Forest Tortoises!!
Great shame, they are of course hugely threatened by the Asian Food market trade and have in recent years been collected in areas to extinction from their native Teak Forests across South East Asia.
In my opinion, they should be bred in captivity where possible and studied. For in the wild, relatively little is known about thier natural biology.

[Henry-flash]

I completely agree, Paul. Having had one stay with me for a few weeks last year I must say they are beautiful tortoises.

I tried to source hatchlings in 2005, but couldn't find any then. By the time I found some I was no longer in a position to take them. Maybe one day!

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Henry-flash

I completely agree, Paul. Having had one stay with me for a few weeks last year I must say they are beautiful tortoises.

I tried to source hatchlings in 2005, but couldn't find any then. By the time I found some I was no longer in a position to take them. Maybe one day!

There was an excellent paper given at last weeks Congress in Germany by Flora Ihlow, who has conducted a limited release programme and field study of this species in Cambodia. She is working for the "Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity; (ACCB), a very worthwhile project sponsored by the Allwetter Zoo in Muenster.
The Field study will provide great insight into natural Biology of this species and for those of us keeping the species in captivity a better understanding of their habits and requirements. Hopefully, not too long before this study is in print and can be more widely distributed.

[NATURALIS]

sounds very interesting,great looking hatchlings

[EquestrianBabe]

So sweet, congrats! Are any of them named?

[Box girl]

No not yet we will wait till they get a bit bigger.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Box girl

No not yet we will wait till they get a bit bigger.

Have you got photo's of the adults? The males in particular, colour up really well in the breeding period.

[Box girl]

Did a photo shoot of the Male and Female this afternoon for our health check and forgot to take my camera ou! Will get some tomorrow! Yes they did clean up well and looked beautiful once I had washed off the dust!
The male is exhibiting breeding codition with a lovely pink nose at the moment!

Originally Posted by Geomyda

Have you got photo's of the adults? The males in particular, colour up really well in the breeding period.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Box girl

Did a photo shoot of the Male and Female this afternoon for our health check and forgot to take my camera ou! Will get some tomorrow! Yes they did clean up well and looked beautiful once I had washed off the dust!
The male is exhibiting breeding codition with a lovely pink nose at the moment!

My male, also flushes pink around the nares when in breeding condition, and his yellow head also becomes much more colourful. This behaviour though widely written about, remains fascinating and makes the courtship of this Asian forest Tortoise very interesting indeed.