Angulate Tortoise and Arum Lily

The angulate tortoise (Chersina angulata) is endemic to South Africa, but fairly common in the western Cape. I found a couple yesterday and decided to take a pic for @papa-pepper's photo combo competition: https://steemit.com/contest/@papa-pepper/combination-photography-contest-from-papa-pepper-week-8.

I placed the tortoise next to an Arum Lily, another indigenous South African plant. You might know it as a Calla lily. Although it is native to Southern Africa it has been widely introduced throughout the world and I believe is invasive in many areas. Still, it is one of my favourite flowers.

In the first photo I took, Mr Tortoise was still a bit shy and hiding, but you can see why he is called the Angulate Tortoise, because of the angulate plate in front, clearly visible here.

I also found another Angulate Tortoise nearby, but this fellow had suffered from one of the many veldfires that have plagued the Cape recently. Nevertheless, despite the burnt shell he seemed to be okay and once I left him alone continued on his merry way.

Finally I took a selfie with the tortoise as required by the contest. Then I put him back where I'd found him.

Tortoises should NEVER be taken out of the wild to become your pet, this is both cruel and illegal in South Africa. They are best left wild.