A trio of rare Red Footed tortoise babies have made an epic 350-mile journey from Nottinghamshire to their new home at Fife Zoo, Scotland.

Red Footed tortoises are unusual because they are one of a very few number of tortoise species that require protein in their diet.

Having hatched at White Post Farm in 2021, the tortoises embarked upon the journey to their new home north of the border.

Specialist keepers from White Post Farm accompanied the tortoises throughout the entirety of their journey ahead of the tortoises going on display at Fife Zoo this week.

The vast majority of tortoise species are herbivores, relying on grasses and plants to form the basis of their diet. Red Footed tortoises also enjoy edible greens, but are considered omnivores given that their diet also includes slow moving invertebrates such as worms, slugs and snails. Native to South America, Red Footed tortoises are also recorded to have eaten the carrion of mammals and birds in the wild.

The tortoises’ move from Nottinghamshire to Fife Zoo is part of a conservation programme to manage the captive number of Red Footed tortoises. According to conservationists, these tortoises are now considered vulnerable to the threat of extinction due to increased habitat loss in their native range and an increasing number of cases of smuggling for the illegal pet trade.

Fife Zoo director Mike Knight said: “We’re delighted to welcome our three baby Red Footed tortoises to Fife Zoo and know that they are going to be popular with all of our visitors now that they have gone on display having completed all of their initial health checks.’

“We are hoping that these tortoises will be ambassadors for their wild counterparts and their presence in the zoo will help to raise awareness of devastating habitat loss in South America. Unfortunately, there are also a rising number of people deciding to own an exotic pet such as tortoises without realising the specialist care that they require. Red footed tortoises have very specific temperature and humidity requirements and their diet differs significantly from most other tortoises.’’

Fife Zoo is currently expanding as part of a 10-year plan, with the zoo home to other animals including the endangered Grevy’s Zebra and Sulcata Tortoises, which are the third largest species of tortoise in the world.