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Here's the happy ending story of Ivan:
Ivan is a Russian tortoise (also called Horsfield's tortoise). He was brought in to T.L.C. Animal Shelter because his family had moved on to hamsters as pets and had lost interest in him. My husband and I have cared for many varieties of turtles in the past (snapping turtles, red ears, box turtles) that came to us injured or as unwanted pets, so we were very interested in adopting Ivan.
I read up on Russian tortoises on the internet, and learned that this variety of tortoise had been heavily exploited for food in Russia, and its population in the wild had declined dramatically after the collapse of the USSR since many tortoises were exported for the pet trade. These tortoises often become sick and injured in transit, and do not survive long once in captivity because people who purchase them in pet shops do not take the time to care for them properly.On the Internet I learned that Ivan likes hot dry summers and long cold winters. He also needs to hibernate for several months in the winter. Ivan is a vegetarian and an excellent digger and climber. I decided he would do best in our cool basement in the winter, and would live outside in our dove aviary in the summer where there is plenty of room for him to exercise.
Thanks, T.L.C., for helping Ivan find a new home. We hope he can live a good long life, and maybe outlive us!Sandi & Parnell O'Brien