Highlighting The Aldabra Tortoise's Home - Clarifying Previous Thoughts

I started gathering photos for a weekly New On The Grounds post, well over a month ago, probably longer.  Of course, never got to it timely.  Need to search back through photos for things I was going to post about.  So, I'll do some retroactive mentions in future posts. 

For this week, I want to highlight the Aldabra Tortoise's home at the Family Farm.  In my two posts from last weekend that I wrote about What I'd Like To See, I mentioned possible new areas for both the Giant Tortoise species, Galapagos and Aldabra.  The later is not in immediate need and in hindsight, I wanted to clarify that.  

Two things sparked my thoughts/ideas for the two Tortoise species.  First, was seeing the huge space that the Radiated Tortoises now had in Madagascar, and then witnessing one of the Galapagos coming from it's night quarters and it seemingly just fitting through the doorway.   With that on my mind, I had already (long before those posts) been thinking of where the Galapagos could be moved.  I first thought about the old Patas/Eagle enclosure, but then Claudia the Condor was transferred out and I thought of her former home at the Puente, which I wrote about in a previous post.

I have had my eye on something being done with the old Duck Pond that neighbors the Family Farm Sand Corral, since before it was filled in, what seems like a couple years ago. It was drained and empty for years prior to that, then filled in and an attempted edible garden started.  Knowing the Aldabras would be growing for decades to come, about a year ago, I thought of this space possibly for them sometime in the future when they'd need a larger home.

In my previous posts, my mind was primarily on optics, as Our Zoo starts to heal from the past, and thrive into the future. With thoughts rooted in Needs of current Residents and, the Need to fill empty enclosures.  As well as a few new build ideas that would enhance the lives of current Residents, and future acquisitions.  

While I do think the Galapagos need an expanded home now, I do not think the Aldabras do, or will anytime soon.  I may have been influenced by wanting empty enclosures filled. I do think that former Patas/Eagle enclosure needs to be filled sooner, rather than later, I just think with a different species.  Hopefully the Zoo is actively looking for one, because it's been empty too long.  Again, optics. At this point in Our Zoo's healing process, I think working on perception is highly important to Our Zoo thriving.

That said, I realized after publishing, that my thoughts specifically about the Tortoises, got a bit blurred, at least in what the Aldabras current needs are.  I think all their needs are being met exceptionally in their current home.

Since that original thought about the Aldabra Tortoises future well over a year ago, their space at the Farm has expanded to include an additional area where the Cockatoo used to live, and most recently a renovation to the pool that was used by the Domestic Ducks years ago.  I hadn't been down to the Farm in a few weeks, so this week was my first time seeing the latest addition.

Aldabra Tortoises Home.

View showing different areas and substrates.  The former Cockatoo space is at the top (photo left of night quarters), moving counter clockwise, their sand box, mud waddle, wading pool (out of view, photo right), and the Keeper door with a howdy fence cut into it, a feature I think is thoughtful, so they aren't staring at wood, when they hear someone.

Earl in sand box, looking past their mud wallow towards their new wading pool at the back.

I Love Earl and Ida, and I love the home Farm Curators have built for them.  They have continually added enriching elements to their environment.  Ida and Earl are always out and active, enjoying their different substrates.

Earl enjoying the sand box.

Ida enjoying the mud wallow.

The most recent addition is the opening of the former Domestic Duck pool.  I was told Ida has already used the pool, and while Earl has gone to the ramp to check it out, he's still debating!

Ramp to pool

Pool view

Port hole viewing for Goats to look through.

I Love this!

As you can see, the Aldabra's are living their best lives at the Farm.   As expressed a bit at the opening, I was and still am uncomfortable that I mentioned them in previous posts suggesting moving them.  Explained why I think that happened, and really glad that the Universe sent me to the Farm the next day, and that I not only got to see their new pool, but remembered, they don't need to be moved anywhere for a long time.  Also glad I use a forum that allows me to rectify things that leave me feeling uneasy.

Hope everyone who visits Ida and Earl gets a chance to see them using their pool!  I'm hoping to get lucky with that this week!

Related Post:

*Continuation Of... - What I Think Our Zoo Needs aka What I'd Like To See

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/05/continuation-of-what-i-think-our-zoo.html

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"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety  , #SanFranciscoZooCEODirectorCassandraCostello , #FormerSanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #FormerSanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed , #SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie , #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence , #Pandas , #Bison ,  #Gorillas ,  #Lemurs