An upcoming Colorado art exhibit that features tortoises with iPads mounted to their backs is being petitioned online.
The "Moving Ghost Town" exhibit is part of the public grand opening of the Aspen Art Museum in Denver. In the exhibit, three African Sulcata tortoises named Big Bertha, Gracie Pink Star and Whale Wanderer, are planned to roam around the grass rooftop of the museum, each wearing iPads strapped to their backs to show a video of area ghost towns.
The museum told the Associated Press the iPads are mounted to the tortoises using the same epoxy as tracking devices on wild animals.
The tortoises are being overseen by Veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Kremzier, DVM and the Turtle Conservatory.
"I have worked with the staff from the Aspen Art Museum since the initial planning phase of the Cai Guo-Qiang project," Kremzier stated on the Aspen Museum of Art's Facebook page. "Without question, the welfare of the tortoises has taken the highest priority in every stage of this exhibition. The environmental and nutritional needs of the animals have been met and are monitored closely. Environmental enrichment has been provided, and every attempt has been made to minimize stress on the animals. In my professional opinion, the tortoises have adapted well to their new habitat, and the iPads have not interfered in any way with their natural behavior."
However, Animal-rights advocates started a petition on Change.org to get the museum to stop the installation of this exhibit. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition has reached over 2,000 signatures.
"Since when is animal abuse art? We must all rise and stop this now!! There is no excuse for this," Aspen native Lisbeth Oden wrote on the Change.org petition aimed at canceling the display. "Please stop this unnecessary exploitation of animals now and do the right thing by getting these iPads of (sic) the Tortoises' backs and make sure they are given to a sanctuary where they will never be abused like this again and put pressure on the artist to vow he will never do anything like this to any other animal ever again!"
Despite the petition and concerns people are expressing online, the Aspen Museum of Art told AP they are standing behind their exhibit.
