Tortoise theft leaves Bitou residents seething

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A leopard tortoise probably became an unlikely victim of Covid-19 circumstances when it was stolen from a Cape Nature property in Plettenberg Bay on Friday 10 April.

A local resident posted on a Plett Watch social media group at about 11:30 on Friday that she had witnessed two men stealing a "giant tortoise" from Cape Nature's Beacon Way grounds.

"It seems they may have made a hole in the fence to get it out, then put it in a Checkers trolley and moved away towards a white bakkie with a canopy," Plett Watch's Lisa Nagel said.

With watch groups not being allowed to operate during the lockdown, the search efforts were hampered, but several residents on their essential food or services runs kept a lookout and followed up several leads, but to no avail.

During the course of the day, however, Nagel received a call from a resident who found a tortoise with a damaged shell in Piesang Valley Road. "One of the Plett Watch team collected it from her and took it to the vet who identified it as a Cape Nature tortoise, but it seems there is still another one missing as it was not the one taken on Friday."

After the tortoise was given the all-clear by vet, it was returned to Cape Nature. "Luckily this one is okay and could be taken home."

It is likely the tortoise was stolen for its meat, authorities said.

A rescued tortoise found in Plettenberg Bay.