Reptile & Amphibian Forums

CALGARY SUN (Alberta) 27 September 04 Police on tail of hot turtles - Teens sought after swipe (Nadia Moharib)
As quick as a bunny, the thief fled with two hot turtles. But last night, cops were on the tails of two teen suspects after a pair of rare Hermans tortoises were stolen from a reptile show on the Stampede grounds yesterday.
The rightful owners -- breeders from B.C. -- said cops had identified the teens, who went into a Petland store for tortoise supplies, and were hoping to track them down and get the rare reptiles back alive and well.
Kevan Wallbank said he will not pursue charges if the tortoises are returned unharmed.
He's even willing to give the teens back the $300 they spent on one they actually bought.
"I'm just kind of bummed out," Wallbank said.
Hermans tortoises, so rare they are rarely seen in pet shops, grow to dinner-plate size and can live up to 80 years.
But Wallbank fears the thieves dumped his toonie-sized tortoises which need an environment of about 27 C.
"They probably won't survive the night," he said.
Hours earlier, Wallbank's wife, Beth, was leaning down to get a receipt for a teenage boy who bought one of the rare, pricey tortoises at the Alberta Reptile and Amphibian Society show when his weasel buddy took the opportunity to swipe two more of the tiny animals.
Wallbank tried to catch the thief, but lost him in the crowd.
A woman at a nearby Petland exhibit, however, said she had chatted with the pair prior to the theft about tortoise care.
Petland fanned out to all its shops to keep an eagle-eye out for any customers looking for turtle supplies.
A short time later, two teens -- who are now suspects -- showed up at the Westhills store and police were on the case.
Reptile show organizer Greg West said thefts from the shows are a sad reality once or twice a year.
"It's too bad, but some people are not as honest as most," he said.
Police on tail of hot turtles - Teens sought after swipe

CALGARY SUN (Alberta) 28 September 04 Hopes Fading For Stolen Pets Tortoise Breeder Writes Them Off (Bill Laye)
The owner of two stolen -- and very rare -- tortoises is hoping the thieves who snapped them up will come out of their shell soon.
But Kevan Wallbank wasn't very optimistic yesterday.
"They're gone -- we know we won't get them back," said Wallbank, who raises reptiles and amphibians as a hobby business in Mission, B.C.
"There's not much more they can do about it, so I guess we just have to keep better eyes on our stuff when we're at a show."
The pair of Hermans tortoises -- worth $300 each -- went missing from a reptile show on the Stampede grounds Sunday.
But efforts to track the turtle-nappers have hit a dead-end, said Dist. 2 Const. Colleen Buckley.
"Unless there's any further information coming from another pet store source in regards to anyone snooping around looking for purchases to make for their tortoise, we're probably at a standstill with this case," Buckley said.
Wallbank said he's expecting the tortoises, which grow to the size of a dinner plate and can live to 80 years of age, are probably dead or have been sold.
And that makes him feel sick.
"We're doing it for the love of our animals and hopefully people who are interested buy them," he said.
Anyone with information on the pets are asked to call Buckley at Dist. 2, 249-7701, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Hopes Fading For Stolen Pets Tortoise Breeder Writes Them Off