Giant tortoise that fled zoo found 140 meters away

Aug 17, 2017 | News On Japan

Aug 17, 2017 (Japan Today) - A giant tortoise that made a break from a Japanese zoo has been found safe and sound two weeks after it escaped -- just 140 meters from the park.

The 35-year-old female, named Abuh and measuring around one meter in length, steamed out of the Shibukawa Animal Park in Okayama prefecture in early August having been allowed to walk freely around the zoo during opening hours.

Zoo keepers, unable to trace the truant tortoise, offered a reward of 500,000 yen for her safe return.

Their plan proved a success when a sharp-eyed local spotted the roaming reptile in nearby shrubbery.

"We were so relieved that she came back safely as she is so popular among children," said zoo staffer Yoshimi Yamane, describing Abuh -- who weighs 55 kilograms -- as having a "gentle" disposition.

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