My circumstances mean that I will be moving to America in around a year with my wife.
I have two Hermann’s tortoises, confirmed male and female that were born in 2000, but I cant find their certificates anywhere! I am really quite worried as I should have them and I have a terrible feeling that my wife threw them out when she cleared out a load of old papers.

As I say I am moving and because the plastron length of each tortoise well exceeds 100mm they have to quarantined for 6 months if I were to take them to the states. Hence I will be selling to a responsible home before I go.

But before any of that I need some advice on how to get replacement certificates. They were Slovenia imports not UK bred and the online trader I bought them from hasn’t responded to me.

I would prefer people only responding to this thread that have information on how to move my circumstances forward, not responses informing me how wrong the import tortoise trade is, how daft it was to lose the certificates, how you shouldn’t buy online, or how I shouldn’t be selling them because my circumstances have changed etc (just to preempt any typical responses).

This thread is intended to help keep the lifestyle to which my torts have become accustomed the same, and so they can continue their happy lives. This thread is not intended to start a debate on importing tortoises or buying online.

I have had mike and leo for 6 1/2 years and both are vet checked and wormed every 6 months, but the vet doesn’t know where I get the certs from and if anyone would its you guys.

Many thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

Matt

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1.1.0 CB00 Hermanns - Mike (M) and Leo (F)
1.1.0 Syrian Hamster - Magnus Ver Magnuson and Princess Buttercup
1.0.0 Chocolate Labrador - Barney "Buttkiss"

Good morning Matt, you'll need to contact:

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service
Floor 1, Zone 17
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Bristol
BS1 6EB.

Phone: 0117 372 8691 or 0117 372 8168
Fax: 0117 372 8206

E-mail: wildlife.licensing@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/index.htm

To see if they will issue you with a certificate in these circumstances. Do you have any sort of receipt or proof from when you bought them? At least you're giving yourself plenty of time to try and get this sorted out before your move.

If for any reason they won't reissue the certificates then you can gift the tortoises on when rehoming, but if you decide to go down this route you will need to write a letter confirming that you are doing this and why for the new keeper(s).

Good luck finding new homes for your torts and with sorting out the certs for them.

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Thanks!!

I will call them today.

I paid for them via a bank transfer but it didnt detail anything on there other than the persons paypal account. So not sure if that counts as proof of purchase? I will have a look see if I have a Paypal receipt.
Its a real shame I cant take them so easily to the States (its also a shame its so bloody hard for me to get in), but at least a year gives me ample time to find a good responsible home for them to continue eating dandlions and digging up the garden!

__________________
1.1.0 CB00 Hermanns - Mike (M) and Leo (F)
1.1.0 Syrian Hamster - Magnus Ver Magnuson and Princess Buttercup
1.0.0 Chocolate Labrador - Barney "Buttkiss"

I don't suppose you updated the certificates to your name? As they could possibly re-issue in this situation.... especially if the tortoises were microchipped, as that makes reissuing certs pretty easy.

This is the main reason I personally urge people to update the certs to their name (it's free), and one of the pro's for microchipping as soon as possible.

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No i never knew I had to update them!

:-(

Its one of those instances where if your not told the specifics its very hard to find out about them :-(

__________________
1.1.0 CB00 Hermanns - Mike (M) and Leo (F)
1.1.0 Syrian Hamster - Magnus Ver Magnuson and Princess Buttercup
1.0.0 Chocolate Labrador - Barney "Buttkiss"

My circumstances mean that I will be moving to America in around a year with my wife.
I have two Hermann’s tortoises, confirmed male and female that were born in 2000, but I cant find their certificates anywhere! I am really quite worried as I should have them and I have a terrible feeling that my wife threw them out when she cleared out a load of old papers.

As I say I am moving and because the plastron length of each tortoise well exceeds 100mm they have to quarantined for 6 months if I were to take them to the states. Hence I will be selling to a responsible home before I go.

But before any of that I need some advice on how to get replacement certificates. They were Slovenia imports not UK bred and the online trader I bought them from hasn’t responded to me.

Matt you never mentioned they were imported to me and also it says they were born in 2000 here but on my post it says 2002?