135 Year old tortoise |
A one hundred and thirty five year old tortoise has been found in a
private zoo in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The giant tortoise of about the size of a microwave was able to crawl with
a woman weighing eighty-two kilogram on its back.
"Its age is determined by counting the lines on its shells", says One of the zoo attendants.
Correspondent Innocent Onoh pointing at Ostrich |
The Old tortoise crawled about freely on the sandy surface just like other younger
ones, not minding the huge human presence at the zoo.
Children were particularly excited about the old tortoise as well as
two playerful Chimpanzees which were performing acrobatics and shaking hands
with human beings.
“I love the tortoise. Daddy said it’s the wisest animal on earth”, said a
seven year old child who sat on the back of the tortoise together with his
younger sister.
Other creatures at the zoo were a lion, two crocodiles, monkeys, peacocks, porcupines,
a Hyena, a Jackal and an ostrich.
The owner of the zoo, Prince Abiola Kosoko said plans were being made to move to a more
spacious environment that will accommodate more animals such as elephants,
Zebra and gorillas, which according to him have already been bought.
“ We have the animals , but the
challenge now is land where we will keep them. As you can see here is small. It
can’t contain the animals".
"We have approached the Lagos State government for a
land. But the amount they are calling is too much. They are demanding millions
of naira which we cannot provide”.
Prince Kosoko appealed to Lagos State government to be of help by providing the land
for the project, so that together such endangered species would be saved from going
into extinction.
“The State should assist us. That is the only way we can preserve these
animals. Most of them are seriously threatened and would go into extinction if
efforts are not put in place to preserve them”.
When asked how lucrative the business was, Prince Kosoko replied,
“what
we do, we do out of passion. We are not making any gain. But indeed, this is a
multi-billion naira project. However, beyond the profit, we should save the animals
from extinction so that the we would have something to leave behind for the
coming generation”.
“Aside the care, the monetary involvement in feeding the animals is the
greatest challenge of running the zoo”, so said another zoo attendants".
He continued:
“They eat a lot and if you do not feed them well enough, they begin to lose
weight, look unkempt or even die. So we spend a lot just to feed them”, he concluded.
Visitors to the zoo are charged Five hundred naira per person to gain entrance.
But the zoo's receptionist who sold
entry tickets said the cost of entrance would change when they move to bigger place that is being planned.
“The price will definitely change. It may be double or thereabout. I cannot
say until then. The place we are planning is much bigger. We intend to keep
more animals, including gorillas, elephants and zebras. Visitors will have a good experience,
but they will pay higher”.
By Innocent Onoh
By Innocent Onoh
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