08/11/2026
How do you repair a broken leg on a 300-pound tortoise?
Hagrid has always been a fan of the finer things in life: mud baths, slow walks, neck scratches, and most importantly, snacks.
For many years, the 300-pound, 40-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise has been a beloved Memphis Zoo ambassador. When one of his keepers noticed early one morning that something wasn’t right, the team moved quickly to have him checked out.
X-rays revealed a fracture in Hagrid’s upper forelimb bone. The cause is still unknown, and he traveled across Tennessee to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for specialized care.
This was an exceptionally rare procedure, with no standard playbook. Hagrid’s Memphis Zoo keepers and veterinarians worked alongside UT zoological medicine and anesthesia specialists, an equine surgeon, residents, technicians, clinical students, and an anatomy clinical instructor to create a plan just for him. The team even made a 3D model of his fractured bone to help prepare for surgery.
Hagrid’s leg is now stabilized with two metal plates and must remain immobilized while he heals. His prognosis is guarded, and there are still many unknowns.
But Hagrid is surrounded by people doing everything possible to keep him comfortable and give him the best possible chance. Mud baths are off the schedule for now—but snacks are still very much on the menu.
Please keep Hagrid, his keepers, and veterinary teams in your thoughts as he begins this long road to recovery.
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