Slovenian tortoise farm

EJ · 09-02-2010, 04:27 PM

This is actually a general tortoise post...

You folks cannot imagine the work that went into this post...
Well... as promissed... a photo essay on a Slovenian farm. These photos were taken by my friend Jim Pether.
This is an amazing place...

The tortoises are very well cared for.

This is the breeding and adult holding facility.

Marginated tortoises which most keepers can only dream of...

Hermanns... note the crowd. This kind of relates to another post...

They are chowing down on... of all things... an apple... fruit.

I had doubts as to where all of the imported Hermanns were comming from. This picture kind of shows that these animals can be mass produced quite easily.

This is the place many only dream of.

Sulcata in Slovenia... gotta make you wonder.

End of part 1.

EJ · 09-02-2010, 04:28 PM

As the story goes...
These Redfoots are obviously captive or farm raised and quite impressive.

The farm breeds and raises other reptiles and amphibians... such as these European Pond turtles.

Oh... forgot to mention these... Radiated tortoises... which I'm certain you will see in the pet trade. It's amazing that these are consider 'endangered species'... not.

As mentioned before... water turtles are also bred. These are amazing and quite rare turtles... I suspect that they will not be rare for long... Indian Tent turtles.

This is the indoor housing facility. The tortoises that can't handle the climate and those that are being raised are kept here... pretty shabby... huh?

These are some of the animals being raised in the indoor facilities...
Leopards...

Sulcatta...

Hermanns...

Stars...

End of part 2

EJ · 09-02-2010, 04:29 PM

I need to wrap this up...
Then they have these little tortoises... this is obviously captive raised... and very well captive raised. This farm has been breeding this species for over twenty years... so I've been told. I do believe them.

These will be available in the EU. Can't get them to the states.

This photo does not do justice to the actual setup for incubation. This cabinet is a part of one that is about 5 ft high and part of a bank of 10 to 15 incubators.

I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. If this is a scam it is one elaborate scam. If it is not... it is proof positive that captive breeding is both beneficial and could be profitable.

**Alan1** · 09-02-2010, 04:38 PM

Thanks for posting all that Ed, very interesting to see

DoodleBopper · 09-02-2010, 04:53 PM

Wow I think this is fascinating as I have a Hermans who is from Slovenia, do you think he will have come from one of these farms? If they are bred on farms like this is there still high risks of them having herpes etc?

EJ · 09-02-2010, 04:58 PM

No.

I have 9 from this farm.

Odds are that your animal came from this farm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoodleBopper

Wow I think this is fascinating as I have a Hermans who is from Slovenia, do you think he will have come from one of these farms? If they are bred on farms like this is there still high risks of them having herpes etc?

DoodleBopper · 09-02-2010, 05:01 PM

I feel better now knowing where he is from. Thankyou for this report of the Slovenian farms!

EJ · 09-02-2010, 05:15 PM

You made me think of a specific point.

Look at the bins and how they are set up. The photos of the tortoises indoors... they are under the light/heat source.

(you got stars... get over it)(this post took me about 6 hours for various reasons.)

(I've go another on Aldabras which I would like to post... what do you think... I'm made of time???????)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stells

The place does look great.... if this place has grown on some of these animals... they really have done a good job

And i can't see them being able to pluck alot of the species there from the wild... (note the sarcasm)

I'm sure some will say the indoor set ups are packed full... but we only have those shots... and they do seem to like to congregate in a group... and you can't see whats in the background (space wise) in those shots...

Thanks Ed for posting this... it does make one open their eyes.... now while you are in the mood for this type of posting... maybe you could do the one you promised on Stars??? lol

Geomyda · 09-02-2010, 05:28 PM

Ed,
These photo's are exactly why I think this topic deserves a slot in an International Chelonian Symposium. I too have Power point presentation,and articles from very well respected European Herpetologists-(in German), which detail findings following a number of trips to these set ups.We also know that International CITES representatives have looked into these operations and to date, they are not critical of the methodology, and legality of these enterprises.
However, until the mystery and background is properly reported there will be many who doubt the legitamacy and sustainability of these operations.
Surely, in the interest of all, such a topic deserves to be more thoroughly investigated and input from Veterinarians, Biologists and Special interest groups, should allow a much better understanding of this phenomenon?
I do know of at least one journalist whom is resarching this subject and seeking to write an article in English to cover this story. However, if a well respected Group were to embrace the challenge, the opportunity for a proper debate is there and I am sure that input & arguments from all sides could resolve the myths and perhaps misunderstandings that currently exist on this subject.

EJ · 09-02-2010, 05:34 PM

I'm missing your point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geomyda

Ed,
These photo's are exactly why I think this topic deserves a slot in an International Chelonian Symposium. I too have Power point presentation,and articles from very well respected European Herpetologists-(in German), which detail findings following a number of trips to these set ups.We also know that International CITES representatives have looked into these operations and to date, they are not critical of the methodology, and legality of these enterprises.
However, until the mystery and background is properly reported there will be many who doubt the legitamacy and sustainability of these operations.
Surely, in the interest of all, such a topic deserves to be more thoroughly investigated and input from Veterinarians, Biologists and Special interest groups, should allow a much better understanding of this phenomenon?
I do know of at least one journalist whom is resarching this subject and seeking to write an article in English to cover this story. However, if a well respected Group were to embrace the challenge, the opportunity for a proper debate is there and I am sure that input & arguments from all sides could resolve the myths and perhaps misunderstandings that currently exist on this subject.

09-02-2010, 04:27 PM	#1
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	Slovenian tortoise farm This is actually a general tortoise post... You folks cannot imagine the work that went into this post... Well... as promissed... a photo essay on a Slovenian farm. These photos were taken by my friend Jim Pether. This is an amazing place... The tortoises are very well cared for. This is the breeding and adult holding facility. Marginated tortoises which most keepers can only dream of... Hermanns... note the crowd. This kind of relates to another post... They are chowing down on... of all things... an apple... fruit. I had doubts as to where all of the imported Hermanns were comming from. This picture kind of shows that these animals can be mass produced quite easily. This is the place many only dream of. Sulcata in Slovenia... gotta make you wonder. End of part 1. __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

09-02-2010, 04:28 PM	#2
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	Slovenian tortoise farm pt2 As the story goes... These Redfoots are obviously captive or farm raised and quite impressive. The farm breeds and raises other reptiles and amphibians... such as these European Pond turtles. Oh... forgot to mention these... Radiated tortoises... which I'm certain you will see in the pet trade. It's amazing that these are consider 'endangered species'... not. As mentioned before... water turtles are also bred. These are amazing and quite rare turtles... I suspect that they will not be rare for long... Indian Tent turtles. This is the indoor housing facility. The tortoises that can't handle the climate and those that are being raised are kept here... pretty shabby... huh? These are some of the animals being raised in the indoor facilities... Leopards... Sulcatta... Hermanns... Stars... End of part 2 __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

09-02-2010, 04:29 PM	#3
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	Slovenian tortoise farm pt3 I need to wrap this up... Then they have these little tortoises... this is obviously captive raised... and very well captive raised. This farm has been breeding this species for over twenty years... so I've been told. I do believe them. These will be available in the EU. Can't get them to the states. This photo does not do justice to the actual setup for incubation. This cabinet is a part of one that is about 5 ft high and part of a bank of 10 to 15 incubators. I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. If this is a scam it is one elaborate scam. If it is not... it is proof positive that captive breeding is both beneficial and could be profitable. __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

09-02-2010, 04:38 PM	#4
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Thanks for posting all that Ed, very interesting to see Last edited by Alan1; 09-02-2010 at 06:25 PM.

09-02-2010, 04:53 PM	#5
DoodleBopper Member Hatchling Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk Posts: 717	Wow I think this is fascinating as I have a Hermans who is from Slovenia, do you think he will have come from one of these farms? If they are bred on farms like this is there still high risks of them having herpes etc? __________________

09-02-2010, 05:01 PM	#7
DoodleBopper Member Hatchling Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk Posts: 717	I feel better now knowing where he is from. Thankyou for this report of the Slovenian farms! __________________

09-02-2010, 05:28 PM	#9
Geomyda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 2,094	Slovenian Tortoise Farms Ed, These photo's are exactly why I think this topic deserves a slot in an International Chelonian Symposium. I too have Power point presentation,and articles from very well respected European Herpetologists-(in German), which detail findings following a number of trips to these set ups.We also know that International CITES representatives have looked into these operations and to date, they are not critical of the methodology, and legality of these enterprises. However, until the mystery and background is properly reported there will be many who doubt the legitamacy and sustainability of these operations. Surely, in the interest of all, such a topic deserves to be more thoroughly investigated and input from Veterinarians, Biologists and Special interest groups, should allow a much better understanding of this phenomenon? I do know of at least one journalist whom is resarching this subject and seeking to write an article in English to cover this story. However, if a well respected Group were to embrace the challenge, the opportunity for a proper debate is there and I am sure that input & arguments from all sides could resolve the myths and perhaps misunderstandings that currently exist on this subject.

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