Non-native African tortoises are appearing across Tucson. Animal advocates fear the damage they could cause.

Tucson residents who find a large tortoise wandering through a yard, roadway or desert wash may be encountering a growing local problem rather than a harmless stray. Sulcata tortoises, also called African spurred tortoises, have been appearing across southern Arizona, including in Tucson and Marana. The animals are not native to Arizona, and local rescue operators say the increase is straining their facilities while raising concerns about competition with the native Sonoran desert tortoise.

The latest rise became especially noticeable after the most recent monsoon season, when hatchlings began emerging and more escaped or unwanted tortoises were reported. Sulcatas are native to the southern Sahara region of Africa, but they are widely sold as pets in Arizona. Their availability, combined with accidental breeding, neglect and releases, has contributed to a population that animal advocates say is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue manager Cody Shockley said the pet trade has few effective safeguards. There is no set limit on the number of breeders, and owners and sellers are not consistently required to use identification tags or undergo checks. The rescue recently responded to a Sulcata that had escaped from a home in Marana. Once the tortoise was recovered, its owner told the organization they no longer wanted it.

Even a single escape can create long-term consequences. Sulcatas are strong diggers and can get out of ordinary yards or enclosures, while females can retain sperm for as long as five years after mating. They can lay dozens of eggs in a year, with young tortoises often appearing toward the end of summer after monsoon rains. That seasonal pattern has produced a recurring surge in animals needing shelter.

Local rescues are already operating near their limits. Shockley said Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue reached capacity during this year’s hatching season and had to coordinate with other organizations that were also short on space. Cressi Brown, the rescue’s founder, said the group recorded 464 reptile surrenders in 2026, including 128 Sulcatas, with September producing the highest number. At one point in September, the facility went from full to having only eight tortoises available for adoption within a week.

The larger operation at Eclecteri Tortoise and Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary in Casa Grande sees an even heavier flow. Operator Teri Boyungs said the sanctuary generally takes in between 300 and 500 Sulcata hatchlings from August through October, and about 1,200 tortoises over the course of a year. She said the organization receives roughly 100 calls every day about surrenders, lost or found animals and potential adoptions. The volume illustrates how quickly a species that begins as a small pet can become a substantial commitment.

Sulcatas can weigh between 150 and 200 pounds as adults, although hatchlings weigh less than a pound and can fit in a person’s hand. That contrast may lead buyers to underestimate the space, lighting, food and secure enclosures the animals will eventually require. One Tucson seller, who identified himself only as John, said he currently has 20 baby tortoises and sells them for $35 each or $60 for a pair. He has advertised them on signs placed around north Tucson, including near Wetmore Road and Flowing Wells Road, after previously selling animals at the Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show.

John said he tries to explain the animals’ care requirements and offers information about terrariums and lighting. A clerk at Tucson’s Tropical Kingdom said the store obtains Sulcatas from local breeders and also works to make sure customers understand their needs. But Shockley said online listings and informal sales can connect the tortoises with owners who are unprepared for their eventual size. John also said demand is weaker than it was five to seven years ago, when his hatchlings would sell out in less than a month. The increase in available animals, he said, means that more sellers now have them.

The environmental concern is what could happen if the tortoises continue escaping or are deliberately released. Arizona Game and Fish does not currently classify Sulcatas as an invasive species, and the agency does not regulate the pet trade because its primary role is protecting native wildlife. Mark Frieberg of the agency said Sulcatas could displace native desert tortoises, consume more food and create competition for habitat and forage. He identified disease transmission as a greater concern than interbreeding. When the agency receives reports about stray Sulcatas, it directs residents to local rescues.

Shockley and Brown want stronger rules, potentially including a ban on keeping Sulcatas as pets. Boyungs has called for licensing, microchipping and penalties for breeding, while Brown said Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue plans to meet with Arizona Game and Fish in 2027 to discuss a five-year strategy for non-native species. Until then, rescues are handling the immediate consequences of a largely unregulated market. Their message is not that Sulcatas are inherently bad animals, but that their size, reproductive ability and environmental demands make them a poor fit for many homes.