You won’t believe how far this shelled wanderer has traveled in the past 3 years.
Fun Fact
The southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa is the native habitat of African tortoises. These amazing animals, who only eat weeds, grasses, and flowers, can live up to 150 years and reach an incredible 230 pounds.
Off To An Adventure
In 2020, a sixty-pound tortoise made the decision to go out on a remarkable adventure.
After 3 Years
Three and a half years later, in Interlachen, Florida, our daring explorer was discovered attempting to cross State Road 20.
Rescuing The Tortoise
On October 21, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office went to the area to retrieve the lost tortoise and handed her over to Florida’s Wildest Animal Refuge.
Amazing Survival Skills
Considering that the tortoise is fond of hot climates and deserts, it’s surprising how she had made it through several winters in North Florida.
Long Journey
The sneaky tortoise seemed to be headed eastward from its home in Hawthorne and had traveled all the way to Interlachen, so it’s safe to say that she’d literally been through a lot.
She’s Home
A few days after her rescue, the tortoise had a touching reunion with her family. In a Facebook post, her owners mentioned how she had been with them since her hatching days, and that they never gave up looking for her all those three long years.
Thanks, Everyone!
The internet community is credited by Florida’s Wildest Animal Rescue with helping to reunite the tortoise with its family. Thanks to everyone’s resilience and help, our sneaky wanderer is now home.
