Sulcata sightings in Central Florida?

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EricIvins

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I really don't know where to put this, but here goes -

Recently I had some Adult Sulcatas stolen from me. They were all animals in the 17"-24ish" range. Most were Female, and one Male. I really don't want to get into the specifics of how many, or the exact location. The general area was in Brevard County.

The remaining group has since been moved, but this can only be temporary untill I can make things secure-er than what they were. Very few people know about where these animals were kept, but word travels quick when your dealing with something out of the "norm"

I keep checking Craigslist and the few local outlets where big Sulcatas are dropped off/sold off, but no luck so far.....I'm just trying to put the word out - There was alot of blood, sweat, tears, time and money invested in these animals, and right now I'm left with nothing......

I also cringe to mention this, but all those animals taken, were gravid. That's a double edged sword in itself - It makes those animals more valuble, but also may compromise their health if not kept properly.

I know their are a few Tortoise keepers on this Forum in the area. So please, if anyone sees Adult Sulcatas pop up out of the blue, please contact me at [email protected]. I'm not looking for free Sulcatas, just the animals that were taken. If need be, a reward can be offered, or something worked out for other Tortoises.........
 

Tom

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I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you way over here on the West Coast. This is a nightmare of every tortoise keeper. So sorry to hear this has happened to you.

Tortoise thieves make me very angry...
 

My Torts

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I'm in Jacksonville and I'll keep an ear/eye out here! Mean people stink!!
 

N2TORTS

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Tom said:
I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you way over here on the West Coast. This is a nightmare of every tortoise keeper. So sorry to hear this has happened to you.

Tortoise thieves make me very angry...

I second the motion ....well said Tom! .... Why my collection is gaurded 24/7. Sorry to hear about that Eric , although I must say with all the torts you sell , you must make many contacts? Word gets out within even the tightest crowds~I"ll keep my eyes /ears open for ya~
JD~
 

Neal

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Did you let anyone over to your home recently to...pick up a hatchling, or see your tortoises, or anything along those lines?

I'm always asked by people interested in my hatchlings if they can come over and see my set ups and adults. The answer is always no. It's nothing personal, but I've been burglarized before...it's not fun...and I am sorry this happened to you, I know how frustrating it is.
 

EricIvins

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N2TORTS said:
Tom said:
I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you way over here on the West Coast. This is a nightmare of every tortoise keeper. So sorry to hear this has happened to you.

Tortoise thieves make me very angry...

I second the motion ....well said Tom! .... Why my collection is gaurded 24/7. Sorry to hear about that Eric , although I must say with all the torts you sell , you must make many contacts? Word gets out within even the tightest crowds~I"ll keep my eyes /ears open for ya~
JD~

Word does get around, but unfortunately greed usually superceeds taking care of each other........

I can't count how many times I've seen that happen in this trade......

Neal said:
Did you let anyone over to your home recently to...pick up a hatchling, or see your tortoises, or anything along those lines?

I'm always asked by people interested in my hatchlings if they can come over and see my set ups and adults. The answer is always no. It's nothing personal, but I've been burglarized before...it's not fun...and I am sorry this happened to you, I know how frustrating it is.

Never have, and never will. These were kept in a relatively un-populated area, away from all of my other animals......

Two thoughts - One, some one decided to take them without really knowing what they were, or two, someone knew what they were and they have already been lost to the Reptile black hole........

However, someone who just started posting on this forum found a Female who looks remarkably similiar to one that was taken, so I'm thinking more #1........They probably took them, threw them in a chicken wire pen, and more than likely watched them walk right through it.......
 

Laura

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contact that person... compare pictures.. its a great looking tort they found in a field..
if one was there, maybe the others are close by..
good luck!
very few of my neighbors know what in my yard. I would LOVE to show everyone and have pens where they can be seen from the road.. but it worries me too much. the neighbors mightbe ok, but thier friends and thier friends...
 

EricIvins

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Laura said:
contact that person... compare pictures.. its a great looking tort they found in a field..
if one was there, maybe the others are close by..
good luck!
very few of my neighbors know what in my yard. I would LOVE to show everyone and have pens where they can be seen from the road.. but it worries me too much. the neighbors mightbe ok, but thier friends and thier friends...

I'm trying.......Replied to a post and sent messages, but I haven't heard anything back yet.......
 

dmmj

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I was thinking of something sneaky you might do. Is post am ad on craigs and others offering to buy female ones at the size that was stolen from you an see if any similar to yours show up, and then maybe contact the police or something. I have a question did you have them marked or chipped in anyway that could show ownership to you?
 

drgnfly2265

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Wow, that is crazy! That is my number one fear of when I have to leave Bowser outside permanently. I swear her pen is going to be locked up like a prison.

I live in Osceola county, right next door to you all, so I will definitly keep an eye and ear out there for anything that I may see pop up. Im August there is a Reptile Breeder Expo in Daytona that is a huge reptile show. Just a heads up if you want to go there and check it out, I think that I'm going.
 

Laura

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this is a perfect reason for microchipping... and getting great photos. make sure you are in the pics with something to date it.. like a newspaper..
 

boutselis

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The person who claims to have had tortoises stolen from him has contacted me but in stead of being forth coming with the info I asked for he is trying to get me to email him when using this site should be just fine.

We have looked for the owner and unless someone can make me very certain that this is their tortoise then I will not give her up without a big fight. He claims he had tortoises stolen and he lives in my area but won't tell me what area that is unless I email him.

fat chance.

It will be very easy for the owner of this tortoise to identify her (If it is actually a her for I have no idea).
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Keith: You must understand the feelings of having been violated and once bitten, twice shy that this person is experiencing. If you're talking about Eric, who posted above, he is a very reputable member of our forum. I totally understand why he isn't willing to give out any personal information about his where-abouts. Maybe there is a middle ground? Maybe pictures of the tortoise while in Eric's care? Something like that?
 

EricIvins

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boutselis said:
The person who claims to have had tortoises stolen from him has contacted me but in stead of being forth coming with the info I asked for he is trying to get me to email him when using this site should be just fine.

We have looked for the owner and unless someone can make me very certain that this is their tortoise then I will not give her up without a big fight. He claims he had tortoises stolen and he lives in my area but won't tell me what area that is unless I email him.

fat chance.

It will be very easy for the owner of this tortoise to identify her (If it is actually a her for I have no idea).

This is the info that was sent, I'm being as forthcoming as I can, without blatantly saying where the animals were exactly located.......

All I want are my Tortoises back, as I have well over $10,000 invested in this group, and now they're gone.......

I don't mind going for broke when I have something to show for it, however, I went for broke and now have nothing to show for it.......Except for being broke......

Sorry i prefer to keep things off a Forum - I pay attention to my E-mail, as I belong to probably 12 different forums and keeping track of Forum PMs gets to be a bit tiresome.......



Re: Found Sulcata
To: boutselis
boutselis Wrote:
I'll wait for the info I requested as well as you telling me the identifying mark on this tortoise. There is absolutely no reason I should email you when you can talk to me here.


EricIvins Wrote:

boutselis Wrote:

EricIvins Wrote:
Can you please E-mail me at [email protected]? I recently had a few Adult sulcatas stolen from me in the same area, and the animal you found may potentially be one of them. I'd really appreciate any help you can give.

Thanks,
Eric

what area is that exactly

Palm Bay - I can't really say too much more, but this particular Female is rubbed on the back Carapace Scutes, has two divots on the second to front Carapace Scutes, and her front leg scales are worn down a bit. I had just acquired her a few weeks before the animals were taken, so I don't have any pictures. I'm fully equipped to deal with these guys, and if you want, I can give you either a Sulcata hatchling when my next clutch hatches, or I have Cherryhead Redfoots right now. I'd really like to try to get as many of these animals back as I can. I was working on a type of GPS tracking system for the big Tortoises before this happened, I just haven't found the right components yet. I'd appreciate all your help in this matter.

Thanks,
Eric

All that information was in the previous PM that was sent - Look at the quotes above.

Thanks,
Eric


Read more: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/private.php?action=read&pmid=91265#ixzz1TSPmRCcM
 

dmmj

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Just FYI eric your link does not work, I don't think people can access PM's like that.
 

EricIvins

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dmmj said:
Just FYI eric your link does not work, I don't think people can access PM's like that.

I just copied and pasted the PM......The link really has nothing to do with it, and I didn't even see that when I C & P'ed.........

Also, the order is hard to follow, since I reply at the bottom of the quotes, but my first PM starts when I asked this individual to E-mail me.......
 

dmmj

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Ok then, just thought I would let you know
 
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