In areas of significant human populations, the leopard tortoise is considered vulnerable.

Leopard tortoises do not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs.

Well, I've seen tigers crunch up a full-grown leopard tortoise like it was nothing.

The African Leopard Tortoise typically lives 80 to 100 years.

Captive leopard tortoises, however, grow faster and may mature as young as six years of age.

Leopard tortoises are increasingly being bred in captivity.

The most widespread is the leopard tortoise, which inhabits semi-arid and grassland habitats.

A very long-lived animal, the leopard tortoise is seldom sexually mature until it is between the ages of 12 and 15 years.

Leopard tortoises are herbivorous.

Even in the best of circumstances, wild-caught leopard tortoises will run up extensive veterinary bills and much time will be spent rehabilitating them.

Geochelone pardalis (Leopard Tortoise)

It features hippopotamus, serval, leopard tortoises, Hamadryas baboons, the Cheetah Spot, and flamingos.

Nearby are some ground birds, the kori bustard and secretary bird, leopard tortoises, a small house with slender-snouted crocodiles, and a hippo pool.

This chelonian is a grazing species of tortoise that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats, although some leopard tortoises have been found in rainier areas.

There's also a lesser-known 'Little Five' - the rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise and ant lion - if you're looking for a challenge.

The leopard tortoises will outlive you, the African rock python will kill you and the tiny Argentine horned frogs set you back better than $50 each, wholesale.

Reptiles at the zoo include American alligator, red-tailed boa, Burmese tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, and Eastern leopard tortoise.

Leopard tortoises are the fourth largest species of tortoise, after the African spurred tortoise, the Galapagos tortoise, and Aldabra giant tortoise.

The South African leopard tortoise is significantly more difficult to propagate in captivity than the common leopard tortoise, S. p. babcocki.

Ms. Webber quipped that visitors need to look out not for the big five but for the small five: leopard tortoise, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, ant lion and elephant shrew.

In most cases, wild-caught leopard tortoises are not only loaded with ticks, mites and internal parasites, but they are usually very stressed and dehydrated and may not voluntarily eat.

The Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape.

As of March 22, 2000, the USDA has banned importation of the Leopard Tortoise, Bell's hinge-back tortoise and the African spurred tortoise.

The animal sanctuary houses lions, leopard, cape buffalos, olive baboons, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, rescued African Grey Parrots, guinea fowls, impalas, leopard tortoises and vervet monkeys among others.