#turtoises

From A Study of Abnormal Terrapins, with an special focus on their juvenile development, made possible by the involvement of the certain Qennish ‘forest ghosts’, who shall remain nameless.

It’s a wonder how many sorts of turtles and tortoises there are. Turtles, of course, are aquatic (or amphibious), and tortoises are terrestrial. Most of the abnormal variants involve some sort of alteration to the shell - mainly because it acts as a sort of shield or sponge, deflecting and absorbing magical energies by turn. This is evident in the natural terrapin resistance to magic. Let us examine several sorts in brief.

The Torteoise: This tortoise, found in the alpine highlands of Lower Aurbesk, has a shell composed entirely of an extravagant cake. Despite the lure of this sweet shell, most predators are only able to consume a few bites before entering a fugue state from over-eating. Several varieties exist, and debates rage in the culinary world on whether they are the source or derivative of the famous Aurbeski torten. Regardless, the diet of the tortoise affects the composition of the cake, though this is seemingly limited to naturally sweet items. Because the cakes remain fresh so long as the tortoise is fed, fine confectioneries and royal kitchens keep several on hand.

The Terrorpin: A large river turtle, with a usual specimen sporting a shell a yard in diameter. It has a vicious beak, and claws that are equally suited for digging or mauling. Its shell is highly polished, and those seeing it flee, gibbering in terror, having witnessed their greatest fear in its sheen. They are common in temperate to sub-tropical climes. However, efforts to weaponize them have not gone well. The shell absorbs the magic meant to preserve the effect after the turtle’s death, and living specimens are indiscriminate in their effects.

Schildi the disabled tortoise uses Lego wheel to get around

The abandoned tortoise was rescued by veterinarians at the Birdconsulting International in Germany. Dr. Panagiotis Azmanis raided a child’s toy box to find a Lego wheel that is now helping Schildi move around.

Comments (3)

By Carol Kuruvilla / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Print

Comment

Christoph Veeser/EPA

The bionic turtle is now using a little Lego wheel to shuffle around.

There’s nothing like German engineering.

An abandoned tortoise from Baden, Germany is rolling in style after being fitted with a Lego wheel for a leg.

When Schildi came to Dr Panagiotis Azmanis, a veterinarian at Germany’s Birdconsulting International, it looked like he’d seen some tough times.

His owners apparently left him to die.

"He was in pretty bad shape when they brought him to us. The lower part of his front leg was missing, and the upper part was very bad, with bone showing, and maggots in necrotic flesh,” Azmanis told The Local.

Azmanis had no choice but to amputate the creature’s leg at the shoulder. The doctor pumped the tortoise with antibiotics and painkillers until the animal stabilized.

But without his fourth leg, Schildi was slower than a sleeping hare.

"Tortoises need to run free in gardens, so he needed a prosthetic," said Azmanis.

So the doctor used veterinary surgical glue to paste a base block onto Schildi’s shell.

Azmanis tried giving him a double wheel, but it was tough for the little guy to swing around corners.

So the doctor rummaged through a toy box belonging to his co-worker’s daughter. That’s where he found Schildi’s new appendage—a little red Lego wheel that was just the right height.

It’s taking Schildi some time to adjust, but he seems to be enjoying his new ride.

The tortoise has moved to an animal shelter, but Azmanis expects to see him for regular check-ups.

"If he gets a 'flat tire' it will be a simple matter to replace the wheel. They move around quite a lot so I'd expect to see him for a new wheel about once a year," the doctor said.

On a mobile device? Click here to view the video.