Flip book

Most people believe turtles to be slow and lethargic. On photos and in illustrations they always appear ponderous: Their scaly legs are too short and their shell appears much too heavy. Yet this is a preconception that doesn’t do justiceto the tortoise. Of course, it is able to stay in the same place for hours without moving, and can even sit still in sub-zero temperatures for months on end. But if it ever wants to get away, it can do so rather quickly.

It is essentially nigh on impossible to domesticate turtles. They are not cuddy animals. And as much as anyone tries to reason with these two tortoises, it is impossible to have any impact whatsoever on their social behavior. These creatures follow their own rules and that’s precisely whatmakes them so interesting: Their self-sufficient ignorance in face of our modern world seems as archaic as the animals themselves.

Can you take a tortoise for a walk? To date, there has been no obligation to put tortoises on a leash in public spaces in Germany. They are evidently considered neither dangerous nor aggressive. In other words, they should be taken for walks off the leash but should not get lost. The solution is to fit

the animals out with helium-filled balloons that float above them, attached to their shell by a piece of string. The heavy, ellipsoid shell on the ground, mirrored by the airy ovoid of the balloon. The floating landmarks make it possible to observe the animals as they embraced their freedom. To casual observers it looks like somebody chasing after balloons that move in oddly idiosyncratic ways. The dancing play of the balloons forms an unexpected contrast to the surprisingly fast explorations of the undergrowth. Walks with untamable animals are a real joy, but demand a certain caution. Consequently, the outlines of tortoises are occasionally sprayed onto the street, creating the impression that they leave an imprint of their bodies. The purpose of this sign, sprayed on with green chalk spray, is to encourage drivers to even brake for tortoises.