flipped tortoise

[Bartman]

If a tortoise flipps onto its back in the wild what do they do? Do they just die or is it possible for them to find ways to flip over..and how long can they go on there backs?

Just curious

[elfomatic]

As I understand it, normally they don't flip over. Tortoises move so slow and are so wide and bulky that it just doesn't happen. Some little tortoises do. They use their necks to flip themselves over.

[brandi]

in two years working on the Desert Tortoise Project, i and the crew i worked for only found 2 tortoises flipped over (they had been predated). it does happen to adults, simply because of the incredibly rocky habitat they use. but usually they are able to right themselves using the same rocks as leverage.

[Bartman]

cool, thanks!