Two Headed Turtle
The turtle has one head at either end of its body and two pairs of front legs, but only one set of back legs and one tail. It likely would not have survived long in the wild, since it walks and swims awkwardly, which would make it an easy target for predators. 3
A rare two-headed turtle captured by a turtle collector was bought by a pet store and is now on display. This two-headed turtle is a rare example of a conjoined-twin birth, its owner said. 1
Without special care, the turtle could easily die, the article says. It has to be fed by hand (otherwise, the two heads fight with each other), and could drown if left near water, because it can’t swim normally. 2
Two-headed turtles are rare, but they do have a chance of survival in captivity, Mr[.] Casey said. “In the wild they would have zero chance. In captivity most die within a few days of birth.” Mr. Casey said he obtained the turtle a few months ago from a man in Florida who was struggling to take care of it. 4
Casey said he suspected a neighborhood kid took the turtle, rather than a thief intent on selling it. He said he believed the turtle was probably worth from $2,000 to $5,000, based on what museums and zoos might be willing to pay. The store is offering a reward of at least $1,000, which is in part financed by donations. 6
The turtle was nameless, in part because Mr. Casey is afraid of giving animals names lest he get too attached to them. He had been planning on having a naming contest through The Daily News, which published an article on the two-headed turtle on Sunday, and then reported today on the theft of the creature. 7
Two-headed turtles have to be watched carefully. “There is always a drowning risk,” Mr. Casey said. “They don’t have the ability to dive and swim the way a normal turtle will. If they are put into deep water they will actually drown.” He added that such turtles have maneuverability problems. “They will flip themselves over and they can?t right themselves because one head is going one way while the other head is going the other way.” Feeding is also a problem. Turtle pellets must be broken into two pieces or the two heads will fight over the food. 5
The turtle has one head at either end of its body and two pairs of front legs, but only one set of back legs and one tail. It likely would not have survived long in the wild, since it walks and swims awkwardly, which would make it an easy target for predators. 3
