The African Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is one of the largest species of tortoise and is known for having a beautifully high-doomed carapace with leopard like markings from which their common name was derived. They are one of the most widely distributed tortoise species on the continent of Africa and one of the most adaptable in the world.
The ideal leopard tortoise diet should consist of the largest variety of grasses, weeds, leaves, flowers and succulents as possible. Leopard tortoises are native primarily to the grassland regions in north eastern, eastern coastal and down to southern Africa. They are herbivores and their diet should reflect a high fiber and low protein regimen.
Leopard tortoise hatchlings and juveniles can be housed in captivity in a variety of ways. It seems that just about everyone has their own unique setup but the main requirements that most keepers can agree on are a heat source both day and night, UVA/UVB light, proper humidity and as much space as you can provide.
A well-known scientist once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy. At the end of the lecture a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: ‘What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise.’ The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, ‘What is the turtle standing on?’ ‘You’re very clever, young man, very clever,’ said the little old lady. ‘But it’s turtles all the way down.’
~ Stephen William Hawking