Tortoise lost for 3 years in Florida returns home after only 5-mile journey
"The tortoise was found not far from where he went missing but with a few cold winters she’s in a little rough shape," wrote the rescue on social media.
Turtle crossing on Florida highway leads to crash
File: A motorist’s decision to stop on a highway in the Florida Panhandle to allow a turtle to cross the road led to a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles, including a semi-truck, on May 16, Walton County officials said. (Credit: Walton County Sheriff's Office)
An African sulcata tortoise in Florida has made her way back home after missing for more than three years.
As it turned out and true to form, she only traveled five miles from where she had originally escaped. The delay is not surprising given that the animal's top speed is 0.3 mph, according to A-Z-Animals.com.
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Deputies found this tortoise trying to cross a road. They posted on social media, "clearly you ain't from around here."
(Putnam County Sheriff's Office / FOX Weather)
Over the weekend, Florida's Wildest Animal Rescue said deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office brought them a tortoise that was spotted trying to cross a highway in Interlachen, Florida.
"He is definitely someone’s tortoise as he likes people and head pats," the deputies posted on their Facebook page.
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The tortoise, a native of the southern Sahara Desert, loved head pats.
(Putnam County Sheriff's Office / FOX Weather)
After deputies and the rescue posted the find on social media, the animal's owner came forward, saying that it had escaped back in April 2020.
"She is in a little bit of rough shape from spending so many cold winters here without heat, but she will be okay, and we recommended a trip to the vet," the rescue posted on its Facebook page. "What a happy ending! We are so happy we were able to assist in reuniting her with her family!"
Deputies found this tortoise trying to cross a road. They posted on social media, "clearly you ain't from around here."
(Putnam County Sheriff's Office / FOX Weather)
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The pet is a native to the souther edge of the Sahara Desert, according to the rescue. The rescue also told deputies that tortoises are known escape artists because they can dig out of their enclosures.