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-Short Attention Span Theater-

Pimp My Tortoise

2006-10-20

Tina the tortoise has been given a lift after being fitted with a suspension system and a pneumatic tyre to help her cope with muddy terrain. The three-legged reptile can now go 'off-road' after the 4x4-style system was attached to her shell.

Tina was fitted with a plastic wheel four years ago to replace her rear right leg.

But our increasingly warmer autumns mean Tina hibernates later in the year, leaving her battling to cope with muddy grass and slopes and dead leaves. So the rudimentary wheel has now been replaced with an air-filled tyre and a spring suspension system with shock absorber.

Speedy Tina can now explore areas of her enclosure at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, which have been out of bounds to her in the past.

The spur thigh tortoise was donated to Longleat in 2002 when she seemed to be depressed because of her lack of manoeuvrability. She rapidly recovered when the plastic wheel was fitted but it wore out and buckled over time as she tried to access rougher parts of her enclosure.

The new wheel and suspension system were made for Tina by model maker Simon England, from Frome, Somerset. The large rubber wheel and adapted axle were stuck on to Tina's shell with an animal friendly adhesive.

Made from cows.

Darren Beasley, the animal's carer at Longleat, said: 'The new system is incredible and allows Tina to go all over the place. She is one of the oldest tortoises we have here at Longleat but you would never know it. She is now among the fastest and certainly making the most of the warm weather prior to hibernating. And she can cope with any terrain it's amazing.'

Posted by:anonymous5089

#9 LOL Glenmore.

Posted by: Shipman 2006-10-20 15:11

#8 But our increasingly warmer autumns mean Tina hibernates later in the year

Ooooooooo I missed the obligatory Global Warming reference

Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-20 13:04

#7 #5 "Carer"?

That's a word?

lol,

[barf werd]

Who is a carer?

A carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.

ahh no $$$ 'splains why a carer cain't afford the 'taker' bit.

A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, which would normally be taken by an adult.

how juvenile

Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age.

even RBers?

Many carers do not consider themselves to be a carer, they are just looking after their mother, son, or best friend, just getting on with it and doing what anyone else would in the same situation.

how precious

Why do carers need support?

Taking on a caring role can mean facing a life of poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression. Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer. Many carers also work outside the home and are trying to juggle jobs with their caring responsibilities. The majority of carers struggle on alone and do not know that there is help available to them. Carers say that access to information; financial support and breaks in caring are vital in helping them manage the impact of caring on their lives.

carers are doomed

[/barf werd]

Posted by: RD 2006-10-20 12:04

#6 pimp my ~~turtle~~ tortoise indeed.

lol, anonymous5089 methinks Tina wud like it!

Posted by: RD 2006-10-20 11:48

#5 "Carer"?

That's a word?

Posted by: Fred 2006-10-20 11:46

#4 an animal friendly adhesive.

Gorilla Glue?

Posted by: SteveS 2006-10-20 10:45

#3 lol Mike

Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-20 08:18

#2 "our increasingly warmer autumns mean Tina hibernates later ..."

So the poor tortoise only needs the new wheel because of global warming.

Can somebody spring for one of those flashy spinning wheel covers?

Posted by: Glenmore 2006-10-20 07:16

#1 Reminds me of a story. A turtle calls 9-1-1 and says he's been mugged by a gang of snails. The cops get there, and they have him going through a book of mugshots, but he can't identify the bad guys. "I'm sorry, officers," the turtle laments, "but I didn't get a good look at them. It all happened so fast."

Posted by: Mike 2006-10-20 07:12

00:00