Giant tortoise found strolling in suburban Los Angeles

A giant tortoise was spotted ambling down a street in suburban Los Angeles.

Police in Alhambra say they found the 150-pound reptile on August 2. It took two officers to heft the creature into a patrol car so they could take it to the local police station.

Police then turned over the reptile to animal control authorities.

Giant tortoises are not indigenous to the Los Angeles area.

Authorities are asking anyone whose big tortoise went missing this weekend to contact them.

Alhambra police ask for public’s help in identifying the owner of 150-pound tortoise (photo Alhambra Police Department)

They say the reptile has some distinctive markings. They aren’t revealing them for now, however, to ensure that whoever claims the tortoise is its rightful owner.

Alhambra police released multiple photos of the 150-pound tortoise on Saturday, August 2, 2014.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the animal’s owner.
“The tortoise did try to make a run for it, but our officers are pretty fast,” the department said in a statement.

“Almost had a pursuit!”
Due to the tortoise’s weight, “it took two officers to take this guy into custody,” the statement continued, adding that handcuffs were “not practical in this situation”.
It was unclear exactly when and where the animal was found.
Alhambra police released multiple photos of the tortoise, and speculated that it might be a female because “it did not respond to Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael or Donatello” – a light-hearted reference to the fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Authorities said the animal has distinctive markings and would be turned over to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control location in Downey.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Alhambra Police Department’s dispatch center at 626-570-5151.