Every year as it gets colder outside our giant, rescued, sulcata tortoises needed to come inside for the winter. These big guys (and gals) lived on Pet World's version of an "African Savannah" during the summer - quarter acre pens (in the middle of an 80 acre nature preserve) complete with a green house, shade trees, and all the grass and sunshine they could handle! But as it cooled off every year they came inside to their winter home on exhibit at Pet World.
Our tortoises inside at Pet World being hand fed, in their outdoor enclosure being fed by our Animal Camp kids and a shot of some of our camp kids hiking to see the tortoises during Critter Camp.
For 35 years Pet World's iconic rescue tortoises were an absolute blast to have in our rehoming center during the winter! Their personality and antics made them a favorite of the staff and customers alike.
Every day at 4 o'clock we would break out a big bag of lettuce and offer customers the unique experience of hand feeding one of these giant tortoises! We taught the safe, correct way to feed them. It was a fun time and free for the entire family! Thousands of fans took amazing photos feeding the giant tortoises and generations of families share these memories to this day!
The tortoises were regularly on exhibit October through May but as of the Fall of 2024, all of Pet World's rescues have been successfully and permanently rehomed (most in Florida where they are outside all year), except for Baby, a Sulcata, and a few red foots that owners Tim and Sherry decided to keep at their farm year round.
