Burgers' Zoo rehomes tortoises after confiscation

Burgers’ Zoo is supporting its colleagues at Zoo Zagreb by accommodating fourteen start tortoises confiscated by Croatian customs and providing them with a new home in Arnhem. The reptiles arrived in Arnhem in 2023 and were housed and cared for behind the scenes until a new public-facing enclosure could be created for them. In June 2021, Croatian customs seized a total of 126 star tortoises, which have since been distributed to several European zoos. 

A revamped enclosure next to the water monitor

Part of the water monitor enclosure in the Rimba tunnel has undergone major renovation in recent weeks to make it suitable for its new residents. In their temporary, behind-the-scenes accommodation, zookeepers carefully place the animals in tempex boxes before releasing them one by one into their new enclosure. Star tortoises are traded illegally on a large scale as pets for hobbyists. The illegal trade in protected animals and plants is a major problem. Sadly, it has developed into a multi-billion-dollar industry for organised crime worldwide.