Animal Facts:
The Asian forest tortoise is the largest tortoise in Asia, with males weighing up to 37 kilograms.
They can live more than a hundred years, thanks to their slow metabolism and they are believed to be one of the most primitive of all living tortoises, not having changed much over the past 55 million years.
One reason for that is that the Asian forest tortoise lays its eggs in the nest above the ground, instead of burying them.
Females construct nests out of leaf litter. They will add new nest material frequently, which helps to mask the smell of the eggs, especially when it rains, making the leaf pile smell damp. Unlike most tortoises, the female then stays near the nest to protect her eggs.
When a predator approaches, the tortoise has several options. She can pull back into her shell while lying on top of her eggs, presenting this to the attacker. This method is not foolproof, however. The tortoise’s shell, which is made up of bones and covered by plates of keratin, might seem hard. But it is, in fact, sensitive, as it has countless nerve endings inside it, which are directly connected to the tortoise’s spine. This means that a tortoise feels any small poke, rub or scratch on their shell, let alone someone biting into it or lifting the tortoise by pulling on it.
Another option the tortoise has when attacked is to run away. Even though tortoises are famous for being slow, the Asian forest tortoise can actually reach a human’s walking speed. But they rarely do so and a female will most often prefer yet another method to protect herself and her eggs. She will first hiss a warning and, if that isn’t heeded, she follows it up by biting intruders away.
The tortoise has strong jaw muscles, with horned ridges that are sharp and can cause serious damage.
These ridges are also effective for crushing their food since tortoises have no teeth.
They mainly eat grasses, leaves, seedlings, herbs, fruit and fungi, but their diet can be supplemented by protein sources such as carrion, invertebrates and small amphibians
The latter they find easily, as the Asian forest tortoises live near water sources like ponds, lakes, rivers or swamps. They generally prefer a habitat with high humidity and will often spend the warmest parts of the day either half-burrowed in soil or water.
The Asian forest tortoises live solitary and males seek out females only during courtship rituals. To court one, the male bobs its head and adds vocalisations ranging from rhythmic grunts to loud bellows.
A rarely known fact is that, when a tortoise goes into its shell, it empties its lungs first. One can hear them exhale when they are startled and pull inside to hide. This is because their solid shells cannot expand or contract and their ribs are firmly locked to it. To breathe while inside their shell, they have to rely on muscles around their lungs, which contract and expand those. But they can also hold their breath for a long time if needed.
Some spiritual meanings:
The Asian forest tortoise isn’t only a primitive species but is also known for its longevity, which translates to them being the keeper of ancient knowledge and wisdom.
Are you continually learning new things? Do you access your inner well of wisdom?
You might need to get in touch with your own past and heal childhood traumas.
The tortoise can draw back into its shell whenever it needs to.
Find security within, instead of outside yourself.
The tortoise’s shell is strong and provides protection, but it is also very sensitive.
Are you connected to your sensitivity?
Or are you too hard on yourself? Do you let others put too much pressure on you?
Create healthy boundaries and communicate those clearly.
The tortoise is known for moving slowly through life.
Is your life too hectic? Are you impatient? Do you rush into things? Do you need to slow down?
Or do you think too long instead of taking action? Are you indecisive?
Pace yourself. When you become too stressed, slow down and focus on the essentials. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
Since a tortoise always carries its home around with itself, tortoise people are often travellers.
Do you feel as if your life is lacking adventure?
Or are you scared to venture out of your comfort zone? Do you feel insecure and have problems giving up control?
The tortoise medicine speaks of breath being important.
Learning different meditation techniques might be beneficial to you.
If you want to read up on more spirit animals or want to learn more about spiritual topics in general, pick up a copy of my book “Willow and Strix – A spiritual journey” ©, available as a paperback or ebook (free for kindle unlimited users) US – UK – DE and in other countries
A. Wakan's Spirit Animals 