Franklin the tortoise has been in the refrigerator for the last 15 weeks.
The rescued reptile is in the care of the BC Wildlife Park, where it was taken after being found on the shores of Shuswap Lake in the interior of the province.
“Presumably someone abandoned him and let him loose, because he was definitely not supposed to be there,” said animal caretaker Dylan Tracey.
Franklin, a marginalized tortoise native to elevated areas of the Mediterranean, requires specific conditions to survive the winter months and could never have survived outdoors in this climate.
In the wild, turtles like Franklin enter a state called brumation, which Tracey describes as “similar to hibernation, but not true hibernation,” once temperatures drop below 10C.
This photo provided by BC Wildlife Park shows the refrigerator where Franklin suffered brumation.
As the external temperature drops, so does the turtle’s internal temperature, as well as its metabolism. While a turtle in this state requires little to no food to survive, it also does not move much or quickly, making it vulnerable to predators.
“They have adapted and developed this behavior to last all winter,” Tracey said.
“They will look for an animal burrow or dig their own into the hillside because the temperature tends to be more stable underground. And then they will half-bury themselves and wait until it warms up again.”
Franklin spent the summer in an outdoor enclosure at the wildlife park, but on October 1 he was moved to the chiller for brumation.
“The refrigerator is really the best way to do it because you can control the temperature much better,” Tracey said, explaining that it’s important to hit a “sweet spot” of around 5 or 6 C because if the temperature drops too low, it’s fatal, and If it is too high, Franklin’s metabolism will speed up and he will burn his fat reserves.
Photo provided by BC Wildlife Park
Franklin will come out of the refrigerator this week and will remain inside until it is warm enough to return him to his outdoor enclosure.
The BC Wildlife Park shared Franklin’s story last month to remind people that it’s crucial to understand what an exotic pet like a marginalized tortoise needs before bringing it home.
Turtles – in particular – are a big commitment, Tracey said, noting their long lifespans.
“Most turtles can live more than 100 years. Therefore, it is a great investment,” he said.
While members of Franklin’s species don’t grow as big as others, they end up weighing over ten pounds and measuring over a foot long and require plenty of room to move around comfortably.
“It’s quite sad, but it is very common among reptiles. People get them when they are very small, they are usually very cute, especially the turtles, they are extremely cute. But people will understand them without imagining or thinking much about the amount of investment,” Tracey said.
The wildlife park urges anyone who is unable to care for an exotic pet to contact an animal welfare organization or other experts for advice on how to proceed rather than abandoning the animal outdoors.
