LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's case of missing turtles has taken social media by storm, a days-long mystery concerning the disappearance of Jack and Chocolate.
The two box turtles were swiped from the Louisville Nature Center sometime over the weekend. Janelle Vaesa with the nature center said someone moved a cinder block from the outdoor enclosure to take the turtles out, and the center wants them back.
"We've all cried every day that we haven't gotten our turtles back," Vaesa said Thursday. "They're super special to us. They're very special to the kids that we see through our preschool, summer camps."
The Louisville Nature Center had five turtles in the outdoor enclosure. While three remain, there are missing spots where Jack and Chocolate should be.
Vaesa said the Louisville Nature Center doesn't know why anyone would want to take the turtles. She particularly fears for Chocolate, a staff and student favorite known as the "Grandpa" of the turtles at the nature center.
Chocolate the turtle was taken from his home at the Louisville Nature Center. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Nature Center)
Chocolate had been at the Louisville Nature Center for about five years. Vaesa said he and can't live on his own in the wild because he can't go into his shell for protection from predators or the weather. He's even used to being taken indoors during cold months because he can't hibernate in his shell.
"He's become kind of our ambassador," Vaesa said. "When we do outreach programs, we take Chocolate with us."
The Louisville Nature Center is near the Louisville Zoo. It works as a nature preserve and environmental education center and is open to the public.
Vaesa said the staff is pleading to get Jack and Chocolate returned.
"These turtles are here for a reason," she said. "They've been injured or they were pets."
Vaesa said the Louisville Nature Center has 80 acres and asks that if someone let the turtles go on the property, please tell them so staff can start searching. The nature center also has containers available, so if someone took the turtles home, they can simply bring them back and put them in the containers outside, no questions asked.
The Louisville Nature Center has containers available, so if someone took the turtles home, they can simply bring them back and put them in the containers outside, no questions asked. Aug. 22, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
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