A tortoise named Molly, an African spurred species not native to the Canadian prairie, was discovered wandering slowly near a wetland at Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba’s Interlake. Gillian Malchuk, a nature interpreter at Oak Hammock, and her colleagues were surprised to find the hefty 36-kilogram creature in an unfamiliar environment. They had initially dismissed reports of a tortoise sighting, assuming it was a common snapping turtle native to the area. However, after a sighting was logged on the iNaturalist app, Malchuk and her team embarked on a search for the tortoise and quickly located Molly.
When a visitor reported seeing a tortoise in the parking lot, the staff rushed out to find Molly, who was hard to miss due to her size. The Oak Hammock team provided Molly with cucumbers and flower petals, gave her guided tours, and cared for her until her owners were located. Molly’s family, who had raised her for 15 years since she was a baby, reclaimed her on July 22. It was revealed that Molly had escaped through a gap in the backyard fence during renovations.
Despite the reunion, the mystery remains as to how Molly traveled approximately 20 kilometers to reach the marsh. One theory suggests that a well-intentioned individual may have relocated her to the wetland, unaware of the unsuitability of the environment for a tortoise. The staff at Oak Hammock speculate on how Molly managed to navigate the distance, considering the potential dangers of the journey for a tortoise not accustomed to such terrain.