KUCHING: A tortoise that was saved from the cooking pot has arrived here.
A staff from the Forestry Department said the reptile arrived safely from Sibu yesterday, all thanks to a man who bought it to save its life.
The seller who said that the reptile would make a good ingredient for soup had initially wanted more than RM1,000 but after much haggling, the tortoise was sold for RM500.
As it is a protected species, the man’s family decided that it was unfair of them to keep it in the house as their home was also an unsuitable environment.
The female tortoise weighing 12.5kg handed to Bukit Lima Forestry staff on Monday to be sent to Kuching that afternoon.
According to the staff, the reptile is an Asian forest tortoise, known by its scientific name Manouria emys.
It will now have a home at the Matang Wildlife Centre.
The tortoise has a big appetite and loves green apples. It also feeds on cucumber, cabbages, carrots and other vegetables.
