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SUNDERLAND ECHO (UK) 02 May 06 Tortoise turns up after seven-month snooze
When Jupiter the tortoise vanished into thin air seven months ago, devastated owner Kathleen Taylor was convinced he had been stolen.
But the tortoise turned up out of the blue – crawling out of a bag of compost in Kathleen's back garden where he had been sleeping since he went missing.
His 62-year-old owner from The Avenue, Hetton, said Jupiter looked thin, shrivelled and was covered in soil, with his head poking out of the bag, but is none the worse for his adventure.
And the troublesome tortoise now has a new play pal – his twin brother Mars, who was given to Kathleen by a friend after Jupiter's disappearance.
Kathleen, a biomedical science student at Sunderland University, said: "I am absolutely gobsmacked. It's hard to believe he has turned up after all this time but I am over the moon."
Kathleen was quick to get Jupiter back in shape and immediately gave him a bath and a snack.
"I spoiled him with his favourite, a feast of dandelions, because he was very hungry after his hibernation.
"He is fine now and has been charging around the house", she said.
The Echo reported last September how his owner feared the worst when Jupiter, who is 11 vanished from the garden, and launched an appeal to get him back.
Police reckoned the pet, who is worth about £400, had been stolen.
But Kathleen got the shock of her life last Thursday when she was digging through a bag of compost and saw Jupiter's head poking out.
He's now getting reacquainted with his brother Mars.
The pair haven't seen each other in more than a year – and, so far, have done nothing but fight since being reunited.
Kathleen said: "I hope to keep them together, then they can share their birthdays and Jupiter will have a companion."
Tortoise turns up after seven-month snooze

Just a thank you to you for all the the interesting news stories you post. I've passed so many of them on to other people. It's one of the reasons I visit Kingsnake, and I just thought you ought to know that people appreciate your efforts.

Nina

This ought ot be inspiration to anyone who has lost a tortoise.

Dear Nina et al;

Thank you for the kind words. It's warming to know that people actually read my modest offerings and that I'm not 'in the way' of "real" Tortoise talk.

I in turn learn a lot from the comments about the press items that are posted from time-to-time by the various specialist forums. Being a 'newt guy', I can't read about/keep everything in detail.

However, I can learn from and enjoy the comments posted by people familiar with and sympathetic to the various herps featured in press items. (Even if the comment is something like: "This report is nuts" ... it indicates to me that perhaps I shoulds not take all the 'reported' news at face value, and should do further research on that particular herp-related topic).

I think that I get more than I give, and I end up learning much more from the comments than I can post as raw press. Thank you to you and your peers for making this an even-handed and mutally benificial process.

Wes
Gloucester, Canada

Just wondering cuz I know sulcatas, Egyptians and red-foots don't hibernate. Very cute story!