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San Diego Zoo's 150-Year-Old Galapagos Tortoise Dies
NBC San Diego ^ | 6/22 | Samantha Tatro

Posted on 06/23/2015 10:55:54 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The San Diego Zoo's Galapagos tortoise Speed, estimated to be more than 150 years old, has died.

Speed had been under veterinary care for geriatric conditions including arthritis and was euthanized by zoo staff on Friday.

Veterinarians had worked to treat Speed with medications, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and physical therapy treatments during his later years. The tortoise came to the zoo in the 1930s as a part of an effort to help preserve tortoise species from the Volcan Cerro Azul Island of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

Speed was known in his younger years as an alpha male who would butt heads with other males in dominance skirmishes. Speed helped create more than 90 tortoises as a part of a breeding group.

Galapagos tortoises were once hunted for food and placed until protection in 1959. They are a critically endangered species. The tortoise lived in the Children’s Zoo for a period of time before being moved to the Galapagos tortoise habitat. Thirteen Galapagos tortoises still remain at the zoo.


TOPICS: Local News; Pets/Animals; Travel
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If it didn't die would the media call for it to be put down because it was a hatchling at the time of the Civil War?

1 posted on 06/23/2015 10:55:54 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Yup, Global Warming. He ate a habanero burrito.
2 posted on 06/23/2015 11:16:42 PM PDT by Cyman (We have to pass it to see what's in it= definition of stool sample)
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To: nickcarraway
That old boy lived a good life.

R.I.P.

3 posted on 06/23/2015 11:17:12 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: nickcarraway

RIP Speed. Where’s the soup?


4 posted on 06/23/2015 11:20:12 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: nickcarraway

5 posted on 06/23/2015 11:27:01 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We Are Not Descended From Fearful Men")
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To: nickcarraway

Another one done in by Obamacare.


6 posted on 06/23/2015 11:30:07 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: nickcarraway

RIP, fella. You sure saw a lot of stuff.


7 posted on 06/23/2015 11:37:17 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: nickcarraway
Speed had been under veterinary care for geriatric conditions including arthritis and was euthanized by zoo staff on Friday.

He didn't die. He was murdered.

No doubt the result of ObamaCare's death panels.

8 posted on 06/23/2015 11:38:18 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Isn't it funny that Socialists never want to share their own money?)
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To: nickcarraway

He probably couldn’t take anymore of people telling him he looked like Mitch McConnell.


9 posted on 06/23/2015 11:41:03 PM PDT by boycott
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To: boycott
Damn. All this time I've been trying to figure out what that turncoat bastard resembled. You pegged it.


10 posted on 06/23/2015 11:46:44 PM PDT by Viking2002 (The Avatar is back by popular request.)
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To: boycott

That’s really insulting to Speed, considering that turtle at least used to be an alpha male. Mitch only does his “alpha male” schtick when going after Conservatives, never the left.


11 posted on 06/23/2015 11:56:48 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: boycott
*SNICKERING*
I Guess the strain was too much..wish "Bitch" McConnell
soon would join him. He's my very corrupt Senator.

12 posted on 06/24/2015 12:02:28 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass ("Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." Hedy Lamarr)
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To: RedHeeler

I don’t this one would have made good on the soup- a bit old

but here’s a receipt:

http://www.gumbopages.com/food/soups/turtle-soup.html


13 posted on 06/24/2015 12:12:19 AM PDT by thesligoduffyflynns (Shrimp Egg Foo Young- A tasty dish! gravy on the side please)
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To: Daffynition; Slings and Arrows

RIP turtle friend. I’m glad you had a long and happy life.


14 posted on 06/24/2015 12:51:51 AM PDT by Gefn (We can't call people without wings angels, so we call them friends- But I call my FRiends angelic)
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To: nickcarraway

RIP.


15 posted on 06/24/2015 1:24:51 AM PDT by TChad (The Hillary for America campaign is now auditioning interns!)
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To: Gefn

Indeed.


16 posted on 06/24/2015 1:31:45 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (My music: http://hopalongginsberg.com/ | Facebook: Hopalong Ginsberg | Instagram: hopalonginsberg)
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To: boycott

*snort*


17 posted on 06/24/2015 1:40:10 AM PDT by tgusa (gun control: hitting your target.)
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To: Gefn; Slings and Arrows
Then there is *Jonathan*.....World's oldest living animal discovered after he is pictured in 1900 photograph


18 posted on 06/24/2015 1:47:21 AM PDT by Daffynition ("We Are Not Descended From Fearful Men")
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To: nickcarraway

Nothing but a stud to them. Lotsa money involved.


19 posted on 06/24/2015 3:26:19 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Daffynition

He belonged in his natural world not in some damn zoo.


20 posted on 06/24/2015 3:27:49 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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