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Certified Organic by Organic Farmers and Growers UK Organic Certification Body
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Certified Organic by Organic Farmers and Growers UK Organic Certification Body

Hever Tortoise World® Tortoise Health and Welfare Policy

HEVER TORTOISE WORLD® - UK'S FIRST CERTIFIED ORGANIC GROWER OF SAFE & EDIBLE PLANTS FOR REPTILES & A CERTIFIED ORGANIC HERBIVOROUS REPTILE HEALTH FOOD STORE

A happy girl holding Rocket and Stanley the baby Redfoot tortoises at Hever Tortoise World

Our Tortoises are Our Amazing Ambassadors and Future Hope for Captive Breeding Programmes

Our tortoises are first and foremost our pets. Some of them have been rescued from places that did not care much about them and others have been adopted as the previous owners no longer had time to care for them. We also have juvenile tortoises whom we have been raising since they were a few months old.

Regardless of where they came from, they all have a loving, caring place with us which they now call home. Our tortoises are wonderful living examples of a great diversity of species who have sadly become threatened with extinction in the wild due to their habitat destruction, both caused by man and climate change, as well as due to the illegal collections for the pet trade. Some of the tortoises we keep have been placed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of species who are most threatened by global extinction, under the Critically Endangered Status. 

Understanding the different species’ natural behaviour and instincts informs the care we provide to all our animals on a daily basis. Tortoises have inquisitive minds and, like other animals, they can get bored. Providing the tortoises with enrichment opportunities ensures they have happy and fulfilling lives with us.

Enrichment Opportunities for Our Tortoises

Behavioural enrichment is a concept we fully support which prevents boredom and unnatural behaviour which can indicate stress. Each species is provided with the correct environmental conditions as closely resembling their natural conditions in the wild as possible, with regards to temperatures (day/night ambient, basking, hot and cool ends), humidity, lighting (both intensity and quality), shelter, hydration, social status, diet and behavioural enrichment.

Stressed animals are more likely to succumb to a variety of illnesses as their immune systems cannot provide adequate protection against pathogenic microorganisms which may be present in their environment. What’s more, stressed animals are not only more likely to become ill, but they can also become unhappy too.

It is, therefore, our utmost goal to keep all our tortoises in the best possible conditions for their physical and mental health. Apart from highly specialised winter indoor accommodation for those tortoises who do not brumate/ (term used for hibernation of ectothermic animals), our animals have outdoor access to unfiltered sunshine and naturalistic planting when the UK weather permits. Despite the big advances in science with regards to reptile lighting and heating equipment, there are still many gaps in our knowledge. The sun, ultimately, provides the best form of both heat and light that tortoises require for their physical as well as mental development and health.

As well as getting their basic needs met in terms of lighting, heating, UV-A and UV-B provision and hydration, we provide a variety of hiding places, suitable substrates and safe, non-toxic, meaningful environmental enrichment such as real and faux plants, bark, tree logs and other enclosure decoration to ensure the correct species-specific temperature and light gradients as well as breaks in the line of their vision are achieved.

If you would like to Donate to help us continue to care for rescued and unwanted tortoises in our care, please, go to our DONATION page. Even a small amount from many people will make a great impact and help towards preservation of these fascinating, ancient creatures!

Natural outdoor tortoise enclosures at Hever Tortoise World

Our Location

Situated in the stunning tranquil area in the “Garden of England”, nestled between historic market towns of Edenbridge and Hever, Kent, we are minutes away from pleasant countryside walks and a several mile Eden Valley walk which passes through High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the banks of River Eden and Medway and Nature Reserves.

There are a number of National Trust Properties nearby to explore including a stunning Sissinghurst Mediterranean Garden (Delos) as part of Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Penshurst Place and Gardens, Standen House and Garden, Wakehurst, Borde Hill Garden, Bateman’s to name but a few. There is an array of Castles to visit from the world famous Hever Castle and Gardens, which is only minutes away by car, Wadhurst Castle, Leeds Castle, Scotney Castle, Sissinghurst Castle and Bodiam Castle.

Less than 25 miles from Central London, we are easily accessible via M25 (Junction 5 or 6). Hever and Edenbridge Town train stations have good links with London and are just a short distance from us.