Inside Look At The Aldabra Tortoise Habitat At The Tulsa Zoo

Aldabra tortoises are the second-largest animal of their kind in the world, and three are living at the Tulsa Zoo.

Tucked in a peaceful corner of the Tulsa Zoo just past the Lost Kingdom, you'll find the Aldabra tortoise habitat.

Justice Mitchell is a reptile keeper and starts her day checking on the tortoises.

"Making sure that everyone was okay overnight, making sure that they're all in good health. And then I usually go back to their main area and prep their food,” Mitchell said.

The menu typically includes greens, apples, carrots, or their favorite, sweet potatoes.

Mitchell said the tortoises eat three times a week.

They don’t have teeth, but with beak-like mouths, they can take a bite and digest through their throat.

The species are originally from the Aldabra atoll, an area in a string of islands off the coast of Africa.

Mo and Dozer are around 37 years old, and Big Al is anywhere from 120 to 135. Mitchell said the tortoises can live up to 200 and the average age is 80.

She said the animals love to be scratched on the neck and shell.

A typical day in the life a tortoise at the zoo includes napping, sunbathing, and snacking.

Mitchell said they lack good eyesight but can still see a wide range of colors.

"And it's so that in the wild, they can see fruit and things like that. So orange, red, yellow is their favorite,” Mitchell said.

The tortoises are proving that sometimes it's okay to move at a slower pace.