Hares, beware: at Global Wildlife Center, the tortoises take center stage (even if they do take a little while to get there). Beginning in May, the center, which is home to more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals from all over the world, will roll out its much-anticipated “Tortoise Encounters,” offering visitors chances to interact with Ninja and Gaia, the center’s two precocious Sulcata tortoises. Ninja (age 10) and Gaia (age 15) will welcome guests to their cozy enclosure located near the Visitor Center, complete with a sod habitat and digging area for comfort. In case you didn’t know, tortoises do love to dig.
What else do tortoises love? Veggies, for one. The center’s horticulture manager has plantings on tap so guests will be able to walk into the enclosure and feed the tortoises the fresh herbivore diet that best serves their species. Sulcata tortoises, also known as the African spurred tortoise, inhabit the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in the wild and are classified as endangered. The species is the third-largest in the world; expect to see Gaia and Ninja—both large and in charge—lumbering peaceably around their fenced-in realm. And don’t fear as the heat ticks up this summer! Louisiana’s warmer climate suits these docile giants, who are known to thrive in temperatures as high as 100 degrees (so long as they have a nice, safe place to cool down).
“If you pet a tortoise, they can actually feel when you touch their shell.”
—Christina Cooper, Global Wildlife
As far as wild experiences go, kicking back and relaxing with the tortoises is one of the lower-energy activities Global Wildlife offers, perfect for kids who might prefer a more low-key encounter (as opposed to the thrill of hand-feeding hungry giraffes out of a pellet cup). Then again, giant tortoises also make great company for reptile-obsessed kiddos keen to test their deep well of knowledge about the species, or anyone simply interested in an up-close encounter with exotic wildlife.
Best of all, Ninja and Gaia get a little something out of it, too, according to Christina Cooper, Global Wildlife’s executive director. Cooper still learns something new about the animals she watches over every day, including the tortoises. The latest: “I did not realize this—this is a new fact for me,” she said. “If you pet a tortoise, they can actually feel when you touch their shell.”
Join Global Wildlife Center’s email list and never miss a beat on when new attractions—like the Tortoise Encounter—will open to the public. Be the first to experience the wild offerings available. Visit www.globalwildlife to learn more.
