A sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) has been saved from an early morning house fire in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, according to the South Walton Fire District.
A sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) has been saved from an early morning house fire in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, according to the South Walton Fire District. The firefighters responded to a residential structure fire around 4:40 a.m this morning and found the house engulfed in flames with the flames threatening two houses next to the burning home. The house caused major damage to the home, and upon mitigating hotspots after the fire was put down, firefighters located a 100-pound sulcata tortoise in the backyard of the home. It was reunited with its owners.
Frank, the sulcata tortoise was rescued from the backyard of a burning home in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Photo by South Walton Fire District.
According to a post on the South Walton Fire District’s Facebook page, the tortoise’s name is Frank.
Said Ann Hagan Kief: So tragic!! We live behind them and enjoy sitting on the dock and watching Frank, the tortoise, wander around the backyard late in the afternoons. Prayers for both of them and Frank.
Said Hunter Davidson: 100 pound tortoise is wild.
Sulcata Tortoise Information
The African spur-thighed tortoise also known as the sulcata tortoise, is a large tortoise that can exceed 100 lbs and live for just as many years. it is the third largest tortoise in the world, and the largest mainland tortoise species in Africa. It is native to the southern portion of the Sahara Desert in Africa and is one of the most widely captive-bred large tortoises. They are a long-lived tortoise that requires expert care and a large outdoor enclosure when they reach full size.They are the probably the most popular tortoise seen at reptile expos and are also the cheapest to acquire, with $50 being an average price for hatchlings. They are also excellent escape artists and will find a breach in any perimeter and exploit it.
