Unknown Vandal Spray Paints Tortoises, Prank Leaves Animals Ailing and in Need of Constant Care

Mar. 15, 2025

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

An act of vandalism could have a lasting effect on a pair ofgopher tortoisesin southwest Florida.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naplesoriginally shared in a Nov. 22 Facebook postthat the animals arrived at the organization after an unknown individual spray-painted the pair, which could lead to future health issues for the animals.

The Conservancy also shared pictures of the tortoises. In one, a tortoise’s shell is painted half hot pink and half royal blue. A second tortoise is painted gold and pink. Staffers also noted that one of the tortoises had paint on the top of its head and back right leg.

“Paint on any turtle shell is problematic because the carapace is bone, which is living tissue,” the Conservancy’s official Facebook page shared. “By covering the carapace with paint, it affects the turtle from absorbing UV light, which can deform the shell along with being absorbed into the bloodstream. There is also the chance for a respiratory infection because of how strong paint smells and there is a high chance that the paint that was used was sprayed onto the tortoise. This means that the tortoise was inhaling the paint fumes.”

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Upon initial inspection, Conservancy veterinarians noted that “there were no apparent injuries and the tortoises were in good health.”

The organization has begun the lengthy process of removing the paint from the tortoises’ shells using a gentle scrubbing technique performed in stages as, “It can be very stressful for the tortoise.”

The Conservancy shared avideo to Facebook on Nov. 27of the procedure, noting that the tortoises “are doing well and slowly recovering under our care.”

Once the paint is entirely removed and the animals are assessed for injuries and illness, the Conservancy hopes to “release them back to the wild.”

For now, the animals are living together in the Conservancy’s reptile room. Thegopher tortoiseis listed as a “threatened” species in Florida.

source: people.com