HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — A 15-year-old tortoise made a great escape from its home in Hamblen County recently, but the 120 lbs. reptile is now back with its owner.
According to one of the owners, he was going about his nightly routine when he noticed the gate had been opened, and Delbert was nowhere to be found.
The cunning tortoise was able to push the gate open himself, and his owners had no luck in their attempts to find him. Delbert's owners then made a post on social media, drawing in hundreds of people who offered to look for him.
A post on social media by Renee Johnson asked people who had seen him to give him some fruit or lettuce and then to call her.
"This will help keep him in one spot for a while and give us a chance to run over to get him," Johnson said.
Soon after, Johnson issued an update that Delbert's whereabouts had been narrowed down. She also said he moves fast but was most likely hunkered down for the night under thick brush off Cain Mill.
On Tuesday around 10:30 a.m., Johnson posted another update that Delbert had been brought home safely.
"He was found walking down the middle of Three Springs Rd," Johnson said on social media. "I think he was headed to Morristown to look for a mate!"
Johnson also thanked the men who saw Delbert and moved him out of the road. The men also stayed with him to be sure he didn't make another daring escape and called the sheriff who then called Johnson to get the missing tortoise.
According to Johnson's husband, Charles, the two had Delbert for six years — ever since they rescued him in California.