Giant Tortoise @ WPZ

The galapagos tortoise enclosure, just like every other exhibit at this open range zoo, is massive in size!

it looks a bit diffrent to thi now because they split the paddock in half and have two seperate groups becuase in the huge paddock the torts couldnt get back to their night yards in time for dinner!

the reason why the yard was reduced in size is so the animals could be more safely managed. previously, due to Dubbo's cold nights if the animals werent inside the keepers had to manually lift the animals back to the night house.
a sling to make the job easier and safer in terms of OHS but the zoo found a better compromise; a new walk-through night house with underfloor heating and an indoor sand-yard for winter viewing and a smaller outdoor area which restricts the tortoises during cold weather from moving too far away.
such gorgeous animals but always worries me just how easily people, if so inclined could hurt them because of the lack of barriers and supervision.