mexican desert tortoise zoologico de irapuato
a protected species in mexico
gopherus flavomarginitus, first time i have photograghed this species. In guadalajara zoo, there are 2 in a large outdoor cage, (to keep possible vandals out, not because of the tortoises escape ablities). Chapultepec zoo does not always exhibit their 1 specimen. Glad to find it here, surely the pair i saw were confiscated by the Profepa enviromental authorities and sent to this small zoo. i wonder how many of the animals in mexican zoos are confiscated from the illegal trade, most likely many.
