I have been told by a person who should know, that in order for you to save the dead tortoise's shell, you have to actually gut and clean the body, as you would clean a fish. Its the moisture that causes the upper layer of keratin to fall off as the shell dries. I had tried leaving the dead animal on the roof in the sun, or burying it, but both times, while the insects cleaned out the organic material, the shell did not stay in one piece.
A cleaned and preserved tortoise shell is a really great educational tool. I went to the TooSlo (CTTC chapter) show quite a few years ago in San Luis Obispo, CA and someone there had brought a whole slew of cleaned tortoises shells, one of which was a very large Sulcata. While it is sad that these animals lost their lives, it was very interesting and educational to see the shells...especially for children, who are always told of the live animal, "Don't touch it." They are usually allowed to "touch" the dead shell.
Yvonne
A cleaned and preserved tortoise shell is a really great educational tool. I went to the TooSlo (CTTC chapter) show quite a few years ago in San Luis Obispo, CA and someone there had brought a whole slew of cleaned tortoises shells, one of which was a very large Sulcata. While it is sad that these animals lost their lives, it was very interesting and educational to see the shells...especially for children, who are always told of the live animal, "Don't touch it." They are usually allowed to "touch" the dead shell.
Yvonne