Turtle Yoda from Melsungen: Runaway causes excitement!

Turtle Yoda from Melsungen: Runaway causes excitement!

In Melsungen, a live turtle boy named Yoda is causing quite a stir. The 17-year-old tortoise has finally made a name for himself, not only through his cute almond eyes, but also through his frequent escapes from the enclosure. The Meier family adopted Yoda four and a half years ago along with a female turtle named Schiggy, but their patience has been called for ever since. Despite several attempts to make the 40 to 80 square meter enclosure escape-proof, Yoda keeps going on his hikes in the picturesque Melsunger Galgenberg, report the Hessische/Niedersächsische General.

The peak of escape occurs between April and June, when Yoda is on the lookout for mating partners. Of course, as a male turtle he is quite willing to mate! This situation sometimes makes his owner, Andrea Meier, smile; however, some careless comments on social media have left their minds feeling less than happy. After all, the family has left no stone unturned and even recently installed a new fence to discipline Yoda.

The world of turtles

Turtles are not new faces on our planet - they have been around since the time of the dinosaurs! These impressive creatures can live quite a long time. While water turtles and pond turtles live around 30 to 40 years, Greek tortoises enjoy a lifespan of 60 to 80 years. Even giant tortoises can live over 100 years! But for a species-appropriate attitude, as described by Südwestdeutsche Rundfunk, you need a lot of time, patience and a good hand.

Did you know that turtles are vegetarian? They love food rich in fiber such as wild herbs and should be kept in an enclosure that offers both sunny and shady places. Such an enclosure requires at least 10 square meters, with other aspects such as watering holes and plantings, to enable the little armored friends to live a species-appropriate life, as Landtiere explains.

The challenge of wintering

Another exciting topic is wintering. Turtles hibernate from November to March, and this period can be complicated and challenging. Overwintering in a refrigerator at around 4 to 7 degrees is a manageable option, while overwintering in an outdoor enclosure carries some risk of the animals becoming lost or threatened by predators. It is important to slowly acclimate the turtles to the higher temperatures after hibernation. Anyone who wants to invest in this type of animal husbandry should be prepared to spend both time and money to meet the needs of these special animals.

The case of Yoda shows not only the challenges associated with keeping turtles, but also the special charm they can bring to our lives. As his family continues to try to keep him in check, one can only hope that Yoda and his new companions - which now also includes a second female turtle named Hermione - can find a peaceful coexistence. Because the world of turtles is full of surprises and little adventures!