Molly’s no sprinter; more of a long-distance athlete, really

At the Oak Hammock Marsh, a 15-year-old pet tortoise named Molly was found wandering 20 kilometers away from her home. Initially, staff at Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Wetland Discovery Centre thought Molly was mistaken for another animal, likely a snapping turtle. However, after receiving a photo through the iNaturalist app, staff realized it was Molly herself.

Molly was in good health but appeared to be quite hungry after her long journey. African spurred tortoises, Molly’s species, are native to hot and arid regions of Africa and are not typically found in Canada. While staff and visitors searched for Molly’s owner, it was discovered that she had been seen in a pet lost-and-found group.

Molly was eventually reunited with her owner after they confirmed the identity through photos. The exact reason for Molly’s long distance trek remains unknown, but some staff believe she may have made the journey herself or that someone found her and took her to the marsh, thinking they were helping her.