It91裸聊视频檚 a big day for Franklin the marginated tortoise who is being brought out of his slumber after spending 15 weeks chilling out in a refrigerator.

The tortoise, rescued from the shores of Shuswap Lake in the British Columbia Interior in 2022, has been in the refrigerator at the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops since Oct. 1, in a hibernation-like state known as brumation.

The park91裸聊视频檚 animal care manager Tracy Reynolds says marginated tortoises are more at home in a warm and dry Mediterranean climate, and winter in the B.C. Interior is 91裸聊视频渇ar too harsh91裸聊视频� for Franklin to spend outdoors.

She says he91裸聊视频檚 been kept at 6 degrees Celsius in a refrigerator at the park but is scheduled Tuesday to move into an indoor habitat with his new neighbour, a red-footed tortoise named Mortimer.

Reynolds says Franklin was likely an abandoned pet, and the people who rescued him cared for him for a few months before handing him over to the park

She says brumation is a natural process for cold-blooded animals like tortoises, allowing them to conserve energy through winter.

91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 completely shut down or stop moving. They do move around a little bit in their little hibernation area. It91裸聊视频檚 just their body cools right down, and they go into a state of torpor 91裸聊视频� everything slows down,91裸聊视频� Reynolds said.

She says once Franklin91裸聊视频檚 body warms up, he91裸聊视频檒l become active right away.

Reynolds said Franklin was reserved and ill when he was first brought to the park, but he has been getting stronger and more 91裸聊视频渙utgoing.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檙e starting to see his personality, if you want to call it that, but it91裸聊视频檚 kind of changing over time, and his activity level and what he engages with is getting more and more as he gets healthier,91裸聊视频� said Reynolds.

She said Franklin and Mortimer were both once pets but their owners probably 91裸聊视频渄idn91裸聊视频檛 want them anymore because they are a very long commitment.91裸聊视频�

She said Franklin91裸聊视频檚 story highlights the importance of doing research before getting a pet, particularly tortoises, since some species including marginated tortoises can live for 100 years.

91裸聊视频淪o, you91裸聊视频檙e not looking at just a five or 10-year commitment. You91裸聊视频檙e looking at maybe having to put it in your will,91裸聊视频� laughed Reynolds, 91裸聊视频淚t might outlive you.91裸聊视频�