Nile Softshell Turtle

Ok this just popped into my head. Does anyone know why we have just one Nile Softshell Turtle? Dotty's daily activities would probably be more interesting to him with at least one other turtle around to socialize with or at least watch. I still think he should have some kind of exhibit mate so the space is better used. But thats a different point.

TZFan: let's just say that softshell turtles tend to be not the most social animals... In correlation with restricted holding space, this can lead to intraspecific aggression.

He is quite vicious I think. Keepers give him his rat treats held out on a long stick and he snaps at them. There are plastic toys in the water that he does play with, or maybe he is attacking them.
The exhibit looks good, with foliage, beach, rocks, and there are other turtles on the other side of a divider at one end. The viewing area is wide and groups in this building stop here.

Nice picture! I've never seen him on land before.

I have also heard that he is aggressive. The turtle separated from him is actually a hinge back tortoise. The main problem I have with this exhibit is that the land area is so large for a turtle that almost never uses it. Weren't there originally plans to have blue duikers in the land section?

Thanks for the other name - no sign on that side.

He was moving all over the beach area Monday but that still leaves space, maybe not enough for a duiker, even such a small one.

How about birds at eye level from the viewing area or higher? Sort of a pocket aviary like the one beside the steps further over.

I've only ever seen this guy laying motionless on the ground.

Oh I didnt know he was aggressive. That explains the lack of exhibit mates.

Its too bad the zoo didnt do as Mr. Wrinkly suggested and birds there. That could have worked.

Because its such a good sized space he is taking up I kind of wish they had just sent him away and used the space for something else.