Caiman lizards, giant skinks, and tortoises with a hinge in their back. Just a few of the many things that make Tortuga Fantana tick!
Tyler Brooks, or “TorugaFontana” (his Instagram handle) is an avid tortoise fanatic and Kinixys aficionado. He keeps a wide assortment of reptiles and amphibians, but his passions lie with hingebacks. Tyler has been keeping and breeding reptiles for many years and shows a true commitment to our hobby and our community.
THN: Tell us a little about yourself Tyler. What got you into reptiles?
TB: Typical story, I was always drawn to reptiles. I started by ‘snake hunting’ when I was a kid. Not hunting to kill, just herping. In my 9th grade biology class we did a vertebrate study and I helped maintain an aquarium and terrarium all year. And at the end, I took home most of the animals. Marbled salamanders, eastern king snake, corn snake and a box turtle. It was off to the races from there.
THN: What species are you currently focused on?
TB: I’m mainly focusing on 4 species of Kinixys hingebacks : K. erosa, K. homeana, K. spekii and K. nogueyi. I also keep an assortment of other reptiles such as Corucia zebrata (Solomon Island Giant skinks) and Dracaena guianensis (Caiman Lizards).
THN: What species have proven to be the most difficult and or rewarding?
TB: The Kinixys project as a whole has been very challenging and rewarding. We’re working to establish wild caught imports. This can be incredibly challenging, all the way to hatching babies.
THN: What is the Kinixys Working Group? And how did you get involved?
TB: The Kinixys Working Group or, “KWG,” is a group of Kinixys enthusiasts. We’re composed of private keepers, zoo keepers and public facilities, all working to share information to help the tortoises in the wild. We also educate and raise awareness about the genus as a whole. It costs nothing to join and you don’t have to be a keeper. We love people to help educate and spread awareness just as much as keeping the animals themselves. We welcome anyone who wants help and join.
THN: What are some future plans for the KWG?
TB: A goal of the KWG we have discussed is buying land in situ for habitat preservation and also to sponsor researchers who are focusing on Kinixys. We’re also considering turning the KWG into a 501c3. We have done t-shirt and sticker drives in the past, and all proceeds were donated to Kinixys researcher, Flora Ihlow. Flora is a German national who has spent considerable time in South Africa studying Kinixys. Raising money to sponsor research is the main goal for now.
THN: What advice would you give someone looking to get into hingebacks?
TB: If you want to get into Kinixys, please reach out to the KWG! We always advise going captive bred if you want to keep Kinixys! Just do your research and reach out. We want people to keep Kinixys, so we’re more than willing to help!
Follow the KWG – https://www.facebook.com/kinixyswg
Follow the Kinixys Cooperative – https://www.facebook.com/kinixyscoop
