The Leopard tortoise is a large and
attractively marked tortoise which has a wide distribution
in sub-Saharan Africa, including recorded localities
in southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eastern Africa (including
Natal), Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Southwest
Africa. In this species males may attain a greater
size than females, a characteristic shared with
certain other members of the genus Geochelone,
including Galapagos tortoises. Large examples may
be 60 cm (over 2 feet) long and weigh over 35 kg
(about 80 lbs.).
This tortoise favours semi-arid,
thorny to grassland habitats. It is, however, also
found in some regions
featuring a higher level of precipitation. Not
surprisingly, given its propensity for grassland
habitats it grazes, extensively upon mixed grasses.
It also favours the fruit and pads of the prickly
pear (Opuntia sp.), succulents and thistles. In
captivity it is a common error to feed too much
'wet' food such as lettuce, tomatoes and fruit;
in reality this tortoise requires a coarse, high
fibre diet. Feeding excessive fruit or 'soft' foods
frequently leads to repeated flagellate and other
gut problems such as colic, most probably as a
result of increased gut motility.
Leopard tortoises will graze happily on lawn grass
if presented with the opportunity and this seems
to prevent most such problems at source. Meat products
should never be given to Leopard tortoises. They
invariably lead to excessive growth, poor bone
formation, dangerously high blood-urea levels,
bladder 'stones' and liver problems. Due to their
prodigious rate of growth, their demand for calcium
and mineral trace elements is high. A calcium-D3
supplement should be provided daily.
