Family’s Giant Pet Tortoise On The Run After Escaping Home

A family from Kansas has asked their community to keep an eye out for their 70-pound tortoise that escaped from their home earlier this week.

Madmartigan is a 10-year-old desert sarcodes tortoise that the Bahri family has owned since she was just a hatchling.

Their biggest concern, is the weather.

"We are originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and in the winter times, we do get frost, but typically the tortoise is in a burrow and is actually warm and inside," Harun Bahri told KSN. "While she could probably handle a cold weather snap, too cold is definitely not too good for her health—so it's a little worrisome."

Obviously, another concern is about Madmartigan being struck by a car while crossing the road, but they've given details as to how moving her should be handled as well.

"If she is on the road, pick her up on the side. For the most part, she is a very skittish, shy animal—odds are she is not very aggressive," Bahri said. He added that she wouldn't bite unless one were to stick their hand in her mouth.

So far, the family has printed flyers, posted on social media, and contacted Wichita Animal Control, but Madmartigan still remains on the run.

"She is a roaming animal, so she can actually get a lot further than you would think, and tortoises are actually a lot faster than you expect, a lot faster, actually, which was a surprising thing to learn," Bahri said.

The family hopes that she comes home soon, especially Bahri's 4-year-old son.

"It's one of the coolest animals I have ever seen and ever had as a pet; it's like having a dinosaur obviously that isn't going to kill you," Bahri said. "It's got personality, believe it or not, and we just miss her terribly."

Desert sarcodes tortoises can live as old as 150, so if she's found, Bahri said he intends for her to be a multi-generational pet.

Read more at MSN

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