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Missing 115-year-old tortoise returned to New Mexico owner

Mark Kolbe

<p>DUBBO, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: "NJ" a one year old galapagos tortoise eats grass at Taronga Western Plains Zoo on April 20, 2012 in Dubbo, Australia. The popular 35 year old Dubbo zoo is set in 3 square km of bushland and is home to over 700 animals. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)</p>

Missing 115-year-old tortoise returned to New Mexico owner

By: Associated Press

Posted at 12:56 PM, Jul 30, 2017

and last updated 2017-07-30 15:56:32-04

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 115-year-old desert tortoise that disappeared from its garden at a New Mexico senior living community was returned.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the tortoise, Diablo, was returned Friday to Manzano del Sol Village. He had ventured to the backyard of a nearby home after a family bought the shell-wearing wanderer from kids at a local park.

Millie Tjeltweed, who owns Diablo, says she doesn't know the circumstances of the tortoise's disappearance.

Tjeltweed says the family that purchased Diablo called the senior living community after seeing a news report on the tortoise's disappearance. Tjeltweed and some administrators from the facility went over to the home, and Tjeltweed was able to verify that it was her pet of 35 years.

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Missing 115-year-old tortoise returned to New Mexico owner

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