I am sad the TURTLE died!

Those of you who know me pretty well know that I have always had a “soft spot” for “turtles,” especially those we once quite often saw walking along the country roads and even highways— we called them “box turtles.” Before I was married, when I lived on Pacific Street near the cemetery and railroad tracks and mobile home park, with the help of “secret” English students at FHS, I once amassed a collection of 13 at one time in my large, wooden “turtle box.” (Thank you, Wayland, Ricky, Mark, and Jimmy!)

So, it was with heavy heart that I heard the news release that stated the following: “A beloved Galapagos tortoise, known as Ralph, died at the age of 120 years old at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens, city officials announced Friday.”

He had been diagnosed earlier in the year with a malignant (cancer) tumor that was causing an increasing blockage in the intestinal tract, and consulting expert tortoise veterinarians had suggested surgery to try to relieve the condition.

It was an “aggressive surgical procedure” and had never before been attempted on a tortoise! Despite the best efforts of an experienced team, RALPH passed away while under anesthesia, because his debilitated system was just too weak to survive the trauma. The team was reported as being sad and devastated at the loss!

Zoo officials expressed their sentiments that they hated to lose any animals under their care, but that it is even harder to watch them deteriorate and not be able to do anything to help! That is why they opted to try the high risk surgery, even though “turtles” are not created for easy surgical access!

Ralph had come to the El Paso Zoo from the Phoenix Zoo in 2016 as part of a “species survival plan” and was a close companion to another tortoise of the same type, “Mr. Potato Head.”

This type tortoise is a “vulnerable” species and is considered “endangered,” and the oldest documented age of one is 171 years. They can grow to a size of 570 pounds and a length from 4 to 5 feet.

If you ever find one walking alongside the Forney country roadway and can coax it up into the bed of your truck, I would like to own a “Ralph.”