LIVING WITH GIANT TORTOISES! (Galápagos Tortoise care with Jerry Fife)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- LIVING WITH GIANT TORTOISES! (Galápagos Tortoise care with Jerry Fife)
Galápagos Tortoises are every chelonian fans dream tortoise to have and work with so what would it be like to live with them in your backyard? While I’m on tour in Phoenix, Arizona, I stop by Jerry Fife who is without a doubt a pioneer in the care and breeding of these awesome giant tortoises!
Dāv Kaufman’s Reptile Adventures
I’m Dāv Kaufman, and I’m obsessed with reptiles, and if you are too, then this is your channel! I travel the planet in search of reptiles and amphibians in wild, exotic places and also tour some of the most incredible private reptile facilities, visit amazing reptile expos, and go behind-the-scenes at reptile zoos from all over the world! So come with me, and join my Reptile Adventures!
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It's such a sad situation when our government sticks its nose in where obviously it doesn't belong but you'll see road side zoos with animals looking horrid and they never do a thing!! I commend this gentleman for keeping the breed alive, just like he says it's nice to have ambassador animals to bring the gen public's awareness to the plight of the ones in the wild. I think they are gorgeous!
They look so happy. Im sorry to hear about what happened :( At least she leaves behind many little baby galapagos' :)
who in their right mind would seize all of those beautiful tortoises from this man he is doing the world and this species an amazing service!! I would take that WAY PAST PERSONAL, THATS BEYOND ANYTHING I CAN EVEN DESCRIBE. Thats straight up way past theft. I would literally not get out of that situation alive. Take my passion Ill fight you until I die because Im nothing without them. Thats my take on it . Something about the sheer beauty of these largescale tortoises makes me cry every time I see them. Seriously I am so in awe of them. So much respect to them and to this man for helping them breed thank you so much.
Jerry is doing a fantastic thing. US fish and wildlife should be ashamed. Thank goodness they did not euthanize his collection!!!!!!!
Why did they want to euthanize his tortoises?
Words of wisdom: "move slowly, eat grass, sleep a lot, you'll live a long time."
Tell that to the cows m8
Jeffery Fife speaks like I would picture a tortoise talks.
Those tortoises are so precious. You can tell he cares alot about his animals. Appreciate that.
I love giant reptiles too and this was one of my favorite videos you've done!
Thanks Andy! Glad you liked it!
One thing i loved about this oldman that he's talking care of all these tortoises from his heart and not treating them like comodites and emotionally attached to them. I wish everyone who have pets treat them like this .💕
Galapagos tortoises are truly amazing personality filled ancient dudes 😍😎 I have had the privilege of working with these gorgeous guys and they are amazing! Thanks for the awesome video 🤓🤓
I have a 260lb Aldabra tortoise in my backyard since he was 14 ounces...low maintence , friendly, love him!!!!❤️❤️
No names for his grown tortoises...that is difficult to imagine why or even how. There are so many names. Wonderful video . Thanks.
Thank you for preserving this incredible species!
Jerry is a hero.
LOVE the giant chelonians. By far my absolute favorite reptile and one I could definitely dedicate my life to if my circumstances were different. Jerry is amazing for keeping with the breeding of these gentle giants even though the government can be such asshats at times. Sucks it took a year to get his tortoises back from the seizure, but I'm glad he kept at it and fought for them!
As for a name, even though the male is on loan, he should call it Sherman because it's built like a tank.
Love that name!
Awesome animals.
As you pet the neck of an animal most of us will never be able to, "For people that don't know, their skin feels almost like elephant skin." Ohhhhh ok, cuz we have a better chance of knowing what elephant skin feels like LMAO
Love you brother!!!
What? doesn't everyone know what an elephant feels like? lol
I wait every saturday till you upload
I'm so sorry for what happened to her. 😭
Those thieves and killers should be punished.
Great video Dave an Jerry. I feel privileged that I have seen them in person.
One day we'll meet down there and do some herping!
wow what a cool tortoises paridise and what a cool video you have
Dude this is amazing , and I really appreciate people like him that want to preserve a species and obtain stability in wildlife for our future ... now we have to get paid from the government rather then scolded to release some of these bad mama jamas to keep population up , all we have to do is make sure they are acclimated and treated to be released , I’m sure easier said then done , but recently this is what I am all about and want to help also , I’m trying to figure out just what it’s gonna be... I really thought I was first to like this btw lmao 😂
I hope that happens one day
This guy is my hero! Why does our government think they can treat people like this? And then they knew that what they did was illegal by giving the torts back if he would sue? Pathetic.
I'd rather not judge as we're lacking details from the other side. Seems like a big waste of money and time on their part though when what they did amounted to taking a bunch of large animals and feeding and housing them for a year. One would think if they went to so much trouble they must have thought they had good reason to.
@@Ryodraconot necessarily. they might have just wanted to shut him down. No charges ever materialized. Probable cause for a warrant is not that high a bar, and agencies usually keep evidence seized until its sold at profit - look up civil asset forfeiture. They probably were not planning on selling these tortoises, but just because they seized them doesn’t necessarily mean they had clear evidence of wrongdoing, just they managed to convince a judge to let them go fishing.
@@theodoretibbitts9538 certainly possible, but as I said I prefer to hear from both sides before coming to a conclusion.
I had nooo idea you could raise these... mind blown
That one tortoise shown in the background while Jerry was speaking about 10 min into the video really gives us a chance to see how big these guys really are.
They are huge!
Hi, 4:46 please get her a "saddle", similar to the turkey saddles you can buy or put some duct tape on her shell to slow down the wear and tear.
Awesome look Dav, thanks for bringing this to us!
Thanks for tuning in! Glad you liked it
Thats amazing. They're awesome animals and it's crazy sad that the government couldnt care less if they go extinct
They don't
I love turtles. I have a red eared slider and if someone tried to take him I would lose my mind. I'm so glad you got them back.
Baby galapagos is the cutest thing!.
Unfortunately, as time passes, regulations become even stricter and the state intervenes much more in our hobby. I hope that his breathing operations go well into the future.
That's why we need to support USARK!
Rest In Peace jasmine
Can't believe you'd have them and not name em! At least the first three. Gorgeous big darlings
anyone else think Dav's voice sounds like Bob Belcher?
Love Gerry Fife ❤
Thank you for keeping em alive
Those are some of my favorite. So cute. He should name them after the islands. Great video!
“I’m bringin’ home a baby bumble bee🐢🎼” (if ya know ya know…)
Thems be my dream tortoise babies! I absolutely adore those guys. One of my favorite earliest interactions, there's nothing quite like them! 🥰
PS- If the grandkids don't come through, give me a ring, email, or send smoke signals, and I'll be there in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail!
Of course Fish and Game would wrongfully take someone's animals. Ugh. Glad he got them back and I hope the person he's talking about can get their male back!
Omg they are like giant slow dogs lol. I loove them!!!
Dav 🤘🏼Rattle On, I have a Desert and a Adult Sulcata
Rattle On! Awesome! Sulcata episode coming soon!
We had a sulfate, that grew up, and ate my parents yard. They decided to donate him to a sanctuary down in AZ. Pretty neat place. They had alot of Sulcatas. I remember dropping her off, they gave me a tour and told me they were working on a birth control. For them, was kinda interesting
I say Sulcatafy the beasts ! I think they are magical creatures that everyone should get to enjoy 😊
I don't disagree
What a good man!
Oh man I want one, I wanna grow old with a giant tortoises
You'd grow old with it, then your children and grandchildren! They can live up to 220+ years!
Dav the education is real
the hard part of owning one is being a young adult with college debt lol. i cant afford a galapagos hatchling for $5k+ AND a property with a yard.. hopefully one day i can :)
Great video of them if I had the money I would have loved to have one or two here in Texas
That’s wild 😂😂 25 yrs and no name hahah
Hopefully, the government will see the light and return the male. Please keep us informed.
I will
Rest in peace Jasmin
My favourite tortoises.
So Good I like
Can’t believe he hasn’t named his 25 year old tortoise?
This is Heaven! 😍
Anout 20 babies mom. Well done 👏 ❤
It would be soooo cool to have a tortoise farm! I probably wouldn't name em either, tbh. Maybe a couple
Beautiful animals ❤
This guy is really nice
Great video! 👍🐢❤️
Woulda been hell for anyone trying to take my reptiles😂 Especially an endangered species !!
I wanna name one Big Ed! 🤣
That is the last living dinosaur right there. I wish I could visit Jerry one day, he is also the originator of ivory sulcata tortoises if I remember correctly.
Yes it is!
Grants to protect these beautiful reptiles? This owner should be getting such grants..????? Great info video..
Amazing animals
Hi super video.
I'm trying to learn the difference between Galopogas, Salcato and Aldaras. Which one would stand taller?
I have a wild one on my property and wanting to identify him /her. Also concerned about scaring it away.
Thanks Kira
If I’m not mistaken, the Galapagos is the largest of the three, followed by the Aldabra and then lastly, the Sulcata. I hope this helps even though your comment is a month old!
Gotta name the male Franklin for sure!
How can you have a pet/animals for 25 years and not name them? Like he clearly loves them. Give the bubbies names 😭🥺
Leave it to our government to put its nose where it does not belong.
They always seem to do that, don't they?
Mind blowing.
The man is a legend in the tortoise world and Fish & Wildlife go and confiscate all of his Galaps, what on earth!?
I'm glad he got them back.
So sad to see such depressing behavior from Fish & Wildlife.
#RattleOn
It happens more than we know. And the end result is the same. "we'll give your animals back if you don't sue us". Quite stupid.
@@davkaufmansreptileadventures yikes :(
Time to sue them
Thanks for asking about the lawnmower. However his grass needs attention. Maybe he can convert the poop into fertiliser
Whoa beautiful breeding facility
Hey man… cool videos! 🐢👍❤️
I have 2 turtles and I’m like this guy I didn’t name them I just let them be
I’m not understanding why they seized the tortoises in the first place. If they are endangered, looks like the gov would be protecting them and even issuing grants to promote their breeding, etc. How can they let Tiger King and ppl with dangerous animals raise, breed, sell deadly animals that aren’t endangered, but confiscate this man’s tortoises? No one has been attacked and killed by a tortoise (that I know if), but I’ve seen several shows about ppl being killed by lions, tigers, monkeys, hyenas, etc. that owners turn loose or fail to contain.
Tiger king was definitely Dealing with endangered animals. But that was 10-15 years ago when laws were lax.
They sure are amazing Tortoises and l certainly wonder if l had them who would continue to care for them after l am gone. l have some snakes that may out live me and l hope that my grandson will do this for me.
Good video and info thanks
Moe, Larry and Curley!
Really a cool episode! I really enjoyed it! Oh, question! Do you plan on going to the Super Show in Anaheim? It's going to be my first and am pretty sure I'm gonna fan girl really bad! I don't need to own a reptile to love them and be fascinated by them!
I'm going to try
Ty for breeding them 😊😊😊
What was the reason that the US Fish and wildlife took his animals?
What awesome animals. Dav, you should really do a collab video with Kamp Kenan. Maybe you could schedule a swim with episode :)
We may do that one day
Tolomy, Talula and Tomaguchi
I've had two for 5 years and someone took them ,from my yard. I miss them ,
@Isaac johnson they arent born weighing 300 pounds 😂
Great video
Whoa great tortoises breeder whoa
Name suggestions:
Eloise
Einstein
Egbert
Bearnaise
Eleanor
Pumpkin
🤗
I think it's really nice they don't have names
Great Video on my Birthday! I have almost finished a reptile rack cage and breeding company. Could I add you to my board of advisors
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the offer
How would I get a hold of him? That part was funny. Do you name them? Nope not really lol!
Im a Shelly,thanks Dav...
That male is definitely a Bruce
Titan for the boy Zena for one of the girls lol.
I suggest them to be named Tonka, Tank, Tanky, Bowser, Bower, Blue Shell, BlueShell, Yoshi, Gianty, Galapagy, Durable, Reliable, Bulletproof, Toyota, Honda, Corolla, Civic, Camry, Accord, Tacoma, Indestructible, Sienna98, Sienna01, Sienna03, SafeSienna, or BestSienna.
sammy and jacky! :D
I wonder who's government job it was to take care of the seized tortoises?? glad they made it back to him
Pry animal control
I was really expecting the story to end saying some of them had died, glad at least the government managed to take care of them
Are any of the captive bred animals ever returned to the Galapagos islands?
No, they can't be.
The male is Thor, first female is Wonder Woman, second female is Shera
I can't understand how he could not name his tortoises. People even name their cars.
do you not see how many he has? he would have to paint them to distinguish each one
@@averagejoegrows Yeah, that's what I thought, too...but he never even named that one that was one of the first hatchlings that he's had for twenty-five years.
I like pancho is a nice name for a pet