Tortoise lost for 4 years, returns home!

[Freedom]

Brentwood, NH 25 pound tortoise was "missing" for 4 years.

There are photos on these links:
http://dailymail.com/News/oddities/201007150154

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news...82/detail.html

http://www.wmur.com/r/24212638/detail.html (This one includes videos as well)
BRENTWOOD, N.H. -- Imagine the shock a couple in Brentwood got after their 25-pound tortoise dug her way out of her pen only to arrive back on their street nearly four years later.

The African Spur Thigh tortoise escaped from her pen at the Wellington Gardens in Brentwood.

It was October and owners, Mike and Christine Wellington, had little hope that she would survive given winter was approaching.

However, Lucy's species is native to the Sahara Desert and she knew exactly where to go to survive.

"When it's really dry, those tortoises will dig a hole (several) feet deep and sit for a year and wait for it to rain," said Mike Wellington. "And when it rains they come out and eat grass, so she must have dug a hole and sat there through the winters."

Friday night the Wellingtons got a call from a neighbor who lives a half mile up the road. Lucy was alive.

Now about 35 pounds heaver than when she left, the Wellingtons are confident this is their escape artist.

Lucy was extremely hungry when she came home.

The people who found her gave her two heads of lettuce. Then she ate a bunch of kale and summer squash.

Lucy is 10 years old now, and if future adventures end safely like this one, she could live to be 80 years old.


http://www.wmur.com/r/24214408/detail.html
BRENTWOOD, N.H. -- A Brentwood couple was shocked after their 25-pound tortoise -- who dug her way out of her pen -- recently showed up on their street nearly four years later, Manchester TV station WMUR reported.

The tortoise escaped from her pen at Wellington Gardens in October.

Owners Mike and Christine Wellington had little hope Lucy would survive, given winter was drawing near.

However, Lucy's species is native to the Sahara Desert and the couple feels she knew exactly where to go to survive.

"When it's really dry, those tortoises will dig a hole 20-80 feet deep and sit for a year and wait for it to rain," Mike Wellington said. "And when it rains, they come out and eat grass, so she must have dug a hole and sat there through the winter."

On Friday night, the Wellingtons got a call from a neighbor a half a mile up the road. Lucy was alive.

Now about 35 pounds heaver than when she left the Wellingtons are confident this is their escape artist.

[Freedom]

I did get a bit confused as several articles say she is 25 pounds, and weighs 35 pounds more than when she left 4 years back.

LOL, poor writing!

[Karen]

I did get a bit confused as several articles say she is 25 pounds, and weighs 35 pounds more than when she left 4 years back.

LOL, poor writing!

For lack of a comma, the meaning is totally different:

original:
Now about 35 pounds heaver than when she left, the Wellingtons are confident this is their escape artist.

corrected:

Now about 35 pounds, heavier than when she left, the Wellingtons are confident this is their escape artist.

[Freedom]

thanks, Karen!

[chocolatepuppy]

Wow! Four years later! Welcome home Lucy!

[Bonny]

Lucy was one smart turtle. She remembered her instincts & survived out in the wild. That is so neat.