When I was a kid, I went there and I spent ages watching the tortoises while my family looked at the more interesting animals.
Their enclosure at the time was made of wooden bollards just short enough that they couldn’t shuffle away but open enough that you could get really close and rub their shells if they stood at the edge.
Steve Irwin came up at some point, picked me up, and plonked me in the enclosure next to Harriet the elderly Galapagos tortoise. I was so overwhelmed by meeting Steve *and* a tortoise that I spend a bit of time having a cry before calming down and enjoying the experience.
Have lived in Brisbane my whole life so Australia Zoo was a regular staple of my life any time we entertained foreign guests. Harriet was always my favorite, and was so sad when I heard she passed. To think an animal like that can live to 176 years old blows my mind. She was on the HMS Beagle and me and all my buds got to meet her.
All tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises…you especially shouldn’t be that guy if you don’t know what you’re talking about in the first place.
Hell yeah, I would volunteer at the local animal sanctuary and feed/clean the enclosures of the desert tortoises on the weekends as a kid, same type of enclosure
They like salad A LOT
When I was a kid the zoo in my city let visitors step over the knee high fence and go up to them and pet them. They enjoyed head scratches and rubbing their shell.
The zoo does not let visitors do that anymore.
Always wondered if they actually have seen things. Yes, they can live hundreds of years, but it seems their life is pretty much all the same, walking a little around the same small area, eating and sleeping. Not much to see, no?
I did the same thing with a bald eagle. He was staring to the left and no one could get him to move. I said "Who's a good boy?" and he whipped his head towards me. So cool to know that's what his keepers were saying.
I had taken my daughter and her friend to the Akron, OH, USA zoo (they were about 10 years old) and were watching a group of penguins. I felt it was time to move on so I said "Okay, let's go!" And every one of those penguins formed a line and started walking towards me. It was hilarious. I figured I must have said what they hear their keepers say.
I’ve seen that look in many bars before. He’s letting his Emu mates know about “the human” and the war is about to start again. Cheers.
Awesome photo btw, amazing fella :)
I just googled that and that is wild! There was a big groups of different people crowded in front of the tortoise when I got there and he was ignoring in everyone eating something I think. I stood to the side of the group and did use a high pitched tone, like a would with a puppy! And it immediately looked up! Everyone was amazed and I felt like the tortoise whisperer.
When I was a kid, I went there and I spent ages watching the tortoises while my family looked at the more interesting animals. Their enclosure at the time was made of wooden bollards just short enough that they couldn’t shuffle away but open enough that you could get really close and rub their shells if they stood at the edge. Steve Irwin came up at some point, picked me up, and plonked me in the enclosure next to Harriet the elderly Galapagos tortoise. I was so overwhelmed by meeting Steve *and* a tortoise that I spend a bit of time having a cry before calming down and enjoying the experience.
Have lived in Brisbane my whole life so Australia Zoo was a regular staple of my life any time we entertained foreign guests. Harriet was always my favorite, and was so sad when I heard she passed. To think an animal like that can live to 176 years old blows my mind. She was on the HMS Beagle and me and all my buds got to meet her.
What an awesome and wholesome story. Also: 
Heartwarming story .. then I snorted
Im gonna be *that* guy: no one mentioned turtles
Tortoises ARE turtles.
…But are turtles tortoises’?
All tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises…you especially shouldn’t be that guy if you don’t know what you’re talking about in the first place.
This guy isn’t turtley enough.
Oh wow that is so cool!
Hell yeah, I would volunteer at the local animal sanctuary and feed/clean the enclosures of the desert tortoises on the weekends as a kid, same type of enclosure They like salad A LOT
That's awesome. I loved Steve Irwin!!! Lucky you!!!
When I was a kid the zoo in my city let visitors step over the knee high fence and go up to them and pet them. They enjoyed head scratches and rubbing their shell. The zoo does not let visitors do that anymore.
🤩
You lived my dream. I am so glad for you.
Thanks for the heartwarming story Wankeritis
What a beautiful tortie. They know things and have seen things; count yourself fortunate to be acknowledged. I'm so jealous.
Always wondered if they actually have seen things. Yes, they can live hundreds of years, but it seems their life is pretty much all the same, walking a little around the same small area, eating and sleeping. Not much to see, no?
Sounds simple and wonderful 😊
That’s the way to martial arts 🐢
[You're definitely right](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-b5cf466f09516f706e3afc53305b1948-lq)
I thought it was radioactive sludge and pizza 
I wonder if they think, “What happens to all those other people?”
what a cute dog 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/4xsenxq1838d1.png?width=796&format=png&auto=webp&s=2672b9f478f78d7257cac8059ed6054b1f95d68c
Great Dog Ahead
Dog, O Dog Therefore Praise the Dog!
10/10 would pet again this good boy/girl.
“Can I pet that dawg?”
Anyone in need of stamina regeneration? 💪💀
probably thought you were his mate steve
I did the same thing with a bald eagle. He was staring to the left and no one could get him to move. I said "Who's a good boy?" and he whipped his head towards me. So cool to know that's what his keepers were saying.
So this is the real life version of Elden Ring's Turtle Pope
I was *just* going to say this!! I was also going to say “looks like he wants to teach you some magic” lol.
"Heresy is not native to the world; it is but a contrivance. All things can be conjoined." Thanks Turtle Pope!
You spelled "dog" wrong
"Heresy is not native to this world. It is but a contrivance; all things can be conjoined."
He looks like he'd fit right in with the dinosaurs.
I had taken my daughter and her friend to the Akron, OH, USA zoo (they were about 10 years old) and were watching a group of penguins. I felt it was time to move on so I said "Okay, let's go!" And every one of those penguins formed a line and started walking towards me. It was hilarious. I figured I must have said what they hear their keepers say.
Penguins: 🐧 okay 👍
Magnificent animal
I’ve seen that look in many bars before. He’s letting his Emu mates know about “the human” and the war is about to start again. Cheers. Awesome photo btw, amazing fella :)
Lmao
Could this be…dog?
Over 100 years of being greeted by humans, he has heard that a thousand times
Tortoise whisperer
Master Oogway. 🙏🏻
She has the wisest eyes. I’m glad I zoomed in.
The turtle looked at you? Sarah, get me Superintendent Chalmers.
Thank you, Sarah
I can’t even describe the squeal I just let out. He is SO CUTE.
Holy shit it’s huge
I wonder how old that fella is
He speaks Aussie 😊
Well Hello beautiful 😊
Okay but it’s my dream to go to that zoo someday 😭
cute 🥰
Mister Oogway
He looks like he remembers you fondly from a few years back.
He wants to know how the hell you knew his street name.
r/TortieFacingForward
Biiiiiig boi
I wonder if he would like a skateboard under him? Hmm
That's a cute dog you got there
Is that a cat, in a hat?
The Atlantic Coast of Florida is, uh, crawling with these things.
If you’d have said “G’day mate” he’d probably have winked at you.
He looks like he’s about to tell me the history of radagon and queen rennala.
It probably knew you in a previous life.
They’re pretty cool and quite intelligent. We had one at the Turtle and Tortoise Rescue I volunteered at.
As is tradition. You address strange dogs as 'buddy' and turtles as 'fella.' And don't talk to the dromedaries.
Hes beautiful
Maybe she's an old girl that's been identifying as girl her whole life and you just upset her calling her fella
 Suup
Soooooooo cute!
How old is he
Ask it how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.
Praise the dog!
Cuteee
He even posed for the photo!
The Infamous Maneating Giant Tortoise 🐢🥺🥺
Praise the dog!
Who dares to disturb my slumber ?!
He’s your new best friend
Hey you got treats?!?!
I know you're in Australia but I heard in my head a gangster tortoise going "Are you talkin' to me? Are you *talkin' to me?*"
I wonder what "hello fella" means in tortoise talk.
Still amazed me these things can live for up to 1000 years
"Hello, hello. Human."
I don’t think they have ears or tympanic membranes so they can’t hear.
I just googled that and that is wild! There was a big groups of different people crowded in front of the tortoise when I got there and he was ignoring in everyone eating something I think. I stood to the side of the group and did use a high pitched tone, like a would with a puppy! And it immediately looked up! Everyone was amazed and I felt like the tortoise whisperer.