Thread: Thai Tortoise

I think I want to buy some tortoises, I was deprived as a child and my parents never bought me one, little did I know that Thailand has tortoises, here's a few here. Wonder if Thais eat them.....

Elongated Tortoise



Science Name : Indotestudo elongata
General Characteristics : It is quite small turtle with weight of 2 kilograms. Its tortoiseshell is moderate high curve. It has totally yellow with slight black dot and some are bright yellow like beeswax so people call it as “Tow –Tien”. It has front legs with big scale at the top and short back legs without fascia but strong nails.
Habitat / Food : It has been found in India, Burma, Indochina, Malaysia and every part of Thailand.It likes to eat many kinds of vegetable including taro, fruit and shell.
Behavior / Mating : It prefers to live in the forest, plateau or mountain which is cold and humidity and also likes climbing.
Current Status : It is a protected animal of Thailand under Thai Wildlife Protection Act B.E. 2535
Visiting Location : Dusit Zoo, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo


Brown Asian Giant Tortoise



Science Name : Manouria emys
General Characteristics : It is a big turtle but smaller than Burma Black Tortoise. Its tortoiseshell is also light brown and high curve, back legs with yellow (like beeswax) scale and spike same as Burma Black Tortoise.
Habitat / Food : It is found at Malaysia, Sumatra Island and Thailand especially in Ranong, Nakornsrithamrat.It likes to eat vegetable, fruit, taro, potato including shell and snail.
Behavior / Mating : It likes highland with humidity or pan and dig a hole to hide itself inside. It prefers to live at mountain and moving water is a must if you want to feed it because an appropriate habitat can prolong its age to 100 years. Moreover, it lays about 30 eggs in each time.
Current Status : It is a protected animal of Thailand under Thai Wildlife Protection Act B.E. 2535
Visiting Location : Kao Kheow Open Zoo

Burmese Black Tortoise(Black Asian Giant Tortoise)



Science Name : Manouria emys phayrei
General Characteristics : It is considered as largest turtle in Asia because of its tortoiseshell’s length of 2 feet which is black or brown and high curve and 30-40 kilograms of weight. It has front legs with big scale and short back legs with big round nails, spike with bone inside being between back legs and bottom in each side which help against in climbing up looked like 2 legs added becoming 6 legs so it is called Tow-Hok.
Habitat / Food : It has been found in Burma, Assump and Thailand, especially in Northern and Western part such as Tak, Karnchanaburi and Tanaowasri mountain range.It likes to eat vegetable, fruit, taro, potato including shell and snail.
Behavior / Mating : It likes afloat landscape and dig a hole then hide itself inside. It prefers to live at mountain and moving water is a must if you want to feed it because an appropriate habitat can prolong its age to 100 years. Moreover, it lays about 50 eggs in each time.
Current Status : It is a protected animal of Thailand under Thai Wildlife Protection Act B.E. 2535
Visiting Location : Dusit Zoo, Kao Kheow Open Zoo, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo

Star Tortoise



Science Name : Geochelone elegans
General Characteristics : Star tortoise is a terrestrial tortoise with beautiful color. It has strong feet and is good at climbing.
Habitat / Food : It resides in Asia. Its origin is in India and South-East Asia. It is a terrestrial tortoise which can be found in all continents around the world. There are 39 different types of it.It eats vegetables and small animals.
Behavior / Mating : It lives on the land.
Current Status : -
Visiting Location : Dusit Zoo, Kao Kheow Open Zoo