One Nashville family's missing tortoise pulled off an unlikely journey across the city, turning up near Nissan Stadium.
After disappearing from a backyard on Nolensville Road, Ginny, a sulcata tortoise, was found nearly six miles away and safely returned home after a two-week search.
Here's what to know
Nashville resident Phil Shay said his family realized Ginny was missing when he stepped outside to mow the lawn and noticed signs at the gate that she may have gotten out. As WSMV reported, the search lasted two weeks and ended with Tennessee Titans employees discovering her outside Nissan Stadium.
Shay assumed Ginny would stay close to home, only to learn that sulcata tortoises are capable of traveling farther than many people realize. Thankfully, her finders matched the reptile to the family's missing flyers and sent Shay a photo.
"I literally thought she may be gone for good," Shay told WSMV. "We live in the city. Surely, somebody would have picked her up or found her along the way."
The weather added another layer of concern. Because sulcata tortoises need warmth and UV exposure, the family was worried about cold conditions if Ginny stayed missing much longer.
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Shay said that since her recovery, he has reinforced the family's gate so Ginny cannot make another escape through the same weak spot, per WSMV.
Where can I learn more?
Ginny's trek across Nashville is the kind of story that makes more sense once you see how often tortoises and turtles turn up in unexpected places. The articles below look at other reptile encounters, from storm-displaced tortoises in Florida to a rare turtle found in a yard.
• In Florida, biologists found dozens of disoriented tortoises after a hurricane scattered them far from burrows.
• In Hue, Vietnam, a rare four-eyed turtle turned up in a yard before heading back to the wild.
Ginny's trip still stands out, but after reading these other stories, it doesn't seem quite so far-fetched.
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