Tortoise thrown into a lake

[Alexlulx]

I recently saw on Facebook some people who "saved" a tortoise by throwing it into the nearby pond, my question is, can they survive if they accidentally fall into a lake in nature for example? From what I heard they will float and will strugle to breath but some people throw them like some rocks

 

[Yvonne G]

Some are buoyant, but not all. I had desert tortoises that sank like a rock and others that were able to float and paddle to the side. Most leopard tortoises seem to 'swim.' Chances are good that tortoise probably drowned.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

The shock of hitting the water must have an effect too... It is just sad what people will do for internet clout

 

[wellington]

The shock of hitting the water must have an effect too... It is just sad what people will do for internet clout

It's disgusting and sad.

 

[TammyJ]

I believe that animal cruelty should be dealt with in the same way as cruelty to children.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I saw a somewhat similar post on FB where a guy would let his sulcata launch itself off a boat and swim around in a river. The Tortoise was tethered the whole time. Comments ranged from "wow, I never knew they could swim!" to "that's animal cruelty". The tort appeared to WANT to dive into the water.

To the casual observer, it looked pretty neat. But the more you watched it, it appeared that he was trying desperately to reach the shore.

What would your reaction be?

 

[wellington]

I believe that animal cruelty should be dealt with in the same way as cruelty to children.

I have a more permanent penalty for animal abusers, child abusers, rapists and murderers. I would even volunteer to buy the equipment and do it for free.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I did unfortunately see someone toss a box turtle crossing the road into a canal across the street. It was well meaning. But the poor thing sunk like a rock.

 

[Tom]

I recently saw on Facebook some people who "saved" a tortoise by throwing it into the nearby pond, my question is, can they survive if they accidentally fall into a lake in nature for example? From what I heard they will float and will strugle to breath but some people throw them like some rocks

There was one of these going around a few years ago and it was someone wearing some sort of official looking county animal control officer uniform. Don't know if the video was phony or not, but the attempt was to make the official doing the tossing look really stupid. The video cuts before you see the fate of the tossed tortoise after it goes into the water.

 

[TammyJ]

I saw a somewhat similar post on FB where a guy would let his sulcata launch itself off a boat and swim around in a river. The Tortoise was tethered the whole time. Comments ranged from "wow, I never knew they could swim!" to "that's animal cruelty". The tort appeared to WANT to dive into the water.

To the casual observer, it looked pretty neat. But the more you watched it, it appeared that he was trying desperately to reach the shore.

What would your reaction be?

It was just trying to survive, first being on the boat, then in the deep water. A terrifying experience either way.