[Ozric Jonathan]

Tortoises do not have conscious awareness of their existence.

It's said that some apes might have this capability but animals such as reptiles act on instinct. As I understand it, the female tortoise does not decide to dig her nest in the warmest place -she just does it. In the same way a tortoise does not 'know' it is hungry.

But we know that tortoises have a memory and go back to the same place to drink or sleep.

Tortoises interact with each other but this behaviour is not communication in the way that we usually use this word.

Tortoises are highly sensitive creatures with actute senses and each has patterns of repetitive behaviour. As a result each animal is unique and we can recognise the individual tortoise even if it looks the same as another.

These are not the most intelligent of creatures, but intelligence is an over rated virtue. Just look at what mankind does to his envrionment.