A Testudo graeca overwhelmed by multiple secondary bacterial infections of the mouth, skin and eyes after contracting a highly contagious strain of Chelonian Herpes-virus. Andy Highfield Following on from our recent articles on the critical importance of having effective disinfection and quarantine protocols, we felt it equally important that keepers fully understand what happens if these should fail. Here are two real-life reports that detail exactly how traumatic this can be. Both appeared...

By S. B. Fairbrass Recently imported Kinixys belliana (Bells Hingeback tortoises) suffering from a variety of health problems and potentially carrying unknown pathogens. All rescue centres need very high standards of disinfection, hygiene and robust quarantine protocols if epidemic spread is to be avoided. This is a reprint of an original article that appeared in the Tortoise Trust Newsletter, 1991, Issue 4. It was written by someone with a professional background in infection control. It...

Centrochelys sulcata, The African Spurred tortoise, exits a burrow. Andy. C. Highfield From a species very rarely seen only 50 or 60 years ago, to a species that is now kept and bred in captivity in astounding numbers. In some ways this might be viewed as a success, but in other respects it has created huge welfare problems. The African Spurred tortoises grow to be very large tortoises indeed, just behind the Seychelles giant tortoises and the Galapagos giant tortoises. Typically sold as...