Yuge African Tortoise Enjoying a Warm Thanksgiving Day ^_^

Tonka is a Geochelone sulcata, or African Spurred Tortoise, who was lost or abandoned and taken into rescue here approx 5 years ago, but no one in the area ever claimed him, so he stays as a permanent mascot and educational ambassador to the rescue and its mission. He was estimated to have been possibly 10-12 yrs old at the time he was rescued, wandering near a dry lake bed during the several year drought in N. Texas. Spineless prickly pear (opuntia) cactus leaves are one of his favorite foods, but he had already enjoyed a collection of sweet potato and zucchini squash beforehand, and he was more interested in pacing along the warm brick wall at the time.