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Tortoises up for adoption at Desert Museum

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Posted 11:28 AM 7/16/2012 : Tortoises up for adoption at Desert Museum

TUCSON- If you're looking for a pet that is low maintenance and not too expensive, you might want to consider a tortoise. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Musuem has about 30 right now and they're running out of room.

"We have more coming in than going out," Herpetology Keeper Renee Lizotte says.

In addition to the 30 tortoises waiting for homes at the musuem, there are 50 more waiting to be dropped off by their adoptive families who can't care for them anymore.  It's illegal to let a tortoise loose in the wild.  "A captive tortoise may have come in contact with other illnesses and diseases and we don't want to introduce those diseases to the wild population of tortoises," Lizotte says.

If you want to a adopt a tortoise you must have an enclosed yard, preferably without a pool or dogs running around.  Also be prepared to have the pet for a while.  Tortoises typically live until at least 40.  "These tortoises aren't going anywhere, they're going to be around for a while," Lizotte says.  "A well cared for tortoise can survive for decades."

For more information about how you can adopt a tortoise head to www.desertmuseum.org/programs/tap.php

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