When our sulcata tortoise (aka African Spurred), Little Jo is afraid, she will pull her head and legs in under her carapace. Her spurs are tough and would offer her some defense from predators. She is very camera shy, but she is not shy about her food now that she has some size. She will thrust herself forward to charge our hands in a warning if she feels we are competition. This is a normal part of her development.
Did you know tortoises and turtles have feeling in their shells? They do! Little Jo will sometimes sway from side to side to get us to remove our hands. She enjoys her bath when we scrub her shell gently with a toothbrush.
