We Went Inside a Turtle Burrow I This Turtle Saves 350 Species From Wildfires

The longleaf pine forests of Georgia, USA, are one of the most diverse habitats in North America. One inhabitant is the gopher tortoise, who provides an unusual community service for fellow residents. When fire comes to the forest, his sandy burrow is a safe haven. But can all the different species that live here escape the flames together?

Re-Edit: Katrin Blaß
Narrator: Sophie Kozeluh
Sound Design: Stefan Fiedler

Original Production:
“Animal Homes – Natural Born Engineers” a production of Coneflower Productions and THIRTEEN Productions LLC in co-production with Terra Mater Factual Studios, written and directed by Ann Johnson Prum

Production:
Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH
@terramater

#terramatters #gophertortoise

[terramater]

Our camera team also squeezed a camera into a red fox burrow. 🦊

[oleannathefox]

Turtle : “It ain’t much but it’s honest work”

[Hallands.]

With 35 burrows per turtle, it’s really making a difference for the survival of other species. Amazing!

[dylanmiller]

I will never feel so important in my life...
My dude saves hundreds of species on the regular...

[anorangewithacapybaraunder]

Shout out to the cameraman for squeezing in the burrow to get us this amazing footage

[zcarp]

The fact that this 1 tortoise, who digs burrows for itself, helps out hundreds of species around him. Gopher tortoises are by far my favorite species we have down in florida

[Outrageousfirevulture]

Gopher tortoise: *digs burrows*

Every small animal in the area:
*”it’s free real estate”*

[artemisbond]

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES.
SOME WEAR SHELLS. 🐢

[samyanu]

"He is a vegetarian so he is no threat for his guests"
The sentence that makes me feel like a cannibal who secretly cooks his friends visiting him.

[rhyza]

Thanks Mr.Tortoise, you save my fav camera-man 😭

[thereseclaire]

2:58 Tortoise: "Come, my fellow animals, to my humble abode. Where it will keep you safe, free from the dangers of the raging fire. Just, be careful of the snake, he too is welcome."

[ComradeCorvus]

The fact that the pine trees evolved to be fire resistant still breaks my brain. Nature is weird in the most amazing ways!

[sarminkadiwar]

I am so proud of my friend tortoise🐢 that he doesn't even hesitate to take all the other species in his home

[Adam-wymj]

That's the equivalent of being a healer in your group. Without you everyone DIES

[LegendaryMercDC]

Tortoise walking casually by a inferno: "such a lovely day"

[clockworks]

The entire duration of the video all I imagine is a tortise wearing an emergancy uniform and standing at the enterance of one of dozens of burrows, slapping different animals on their backs while screaming "GO, GO, GO! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"

[terramater]

Hey Friends, thanks so much for all your help! ❤️🏆
The Webby award winners will be announced on May 18th; we will keep you updated!

[NathyIsabella]

tortoise be like: WTF is this camera inside my house?

[drey]

Its really impressive how u guys made those amazing shots inside the burrow. 🥺

[KaiNLinda]

Snake: you aight with me, tortoise.
Tortoise: remember the truce.