Pet's Common Name and/or Species Name
Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

A little about me...
Meet Shirley, a remarkable Mojave Desert Tortoise living in the Colorado Desert of California. Shirley regularly undertakes an incredible journey, traveling from her burrows on the desert floor to another burrow 1,300 feet straight up a near-vertical cliff; completing this trek in under a day. Her feat is awe-inspiring, especially considering the challenging terrain.

Shirley is part of a USGS study, and during a visit to the study area with researchers and other scientists, we had the privilege of observing her as researchers collected data.

A quick note: she was approached and photographed under appropriate permits and safety precautions. Wild tortoises should not be approached closer than 10-20 feet, as it can cause them to void their water stores or expose them to human illnesses that they are very susceptible to.

Entrant's Name
Zeev N