Vale MP Alun Cairns has visited the International Tortoise Sanctuary in Sully to see the work that the charity is doing to protect and house tortoises from across the UK.
The MPs visit coincides with the big tortoise wake up, the few days at the end of February when tortoise owners collect their animals from hibernation in specially cooled sheds at the sanctuary.
In addition to providing hibernation facilities, the International Tortoise Association re-homes tortoises illegally brought into the UK and cares for tortoises which are sick and injured.
Mr Cairns was shell-shocked to discover that there are over 800 tortoises on at the site of all breeds and sizes. The MP held very young tortoises only slightly bigger than a human thumb at met giant tortoises (pictured) as they made short work of a large pile of vegetables.
The Association is run by Ann Ovenstone MBE and Celia Claypole who provide round the clock care to the tortoises, ensuring that they are washed fed, and kept at the right temperature.
Ann and Celia informed the MP that a large part of their mission is to improve tortoise owners’ knowledge of how to care for their animals. They shared dangerous misconceptions that some people hold about tortoises. Tortoises should hibernate at between two and six degrees centigrade, but many used to believe that they should be put in airing cupboards to hibernate. This practice has ruined many hibernations and killed many tortoises.
In addition, Mr Cairns learned that when a tortoise wakes up from hibernation, additional warmth must be provided by heat lights to counter the cold of a British spring.
The MP said, “It was a great pleasure to meet Ann, Celia and the tortoises. I was in awe of the complex systems they have for caring for so many tortoises of different species.
“Ann and Celia are volunteers who do so much for these animals out of a deep kindness and love for these creatures. Importantly, they are teaching others who love tortoises about caring for them properly.
“Tortoises are not native to this often chilly land of ours, caring for them in an environment colder than their natural habitat is certainly a challenge that cannot be taken lightly.”