A man who apparently attempted to steal a California Desert Tortoise was pointed out by authorities for trying to take the threatened animal from an adoption occasion Saturday early morning in Balboa Park.
The declared tortoise-napping took place at an event hosted by the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society. Exhibitor Erick Lara informed OnSceneTV that he was sidetracked for a minute, and when he reversed to the tortoise enclosure the man was bent over with his hand inside a zippered lug bag.
Lara said that when he counted the tortoises and showed up one shy, that’s when he recognized the man may be attempting to take one. With the man walking away, he and his brother-in-law faced the thought tortoise lifter, and got the unusual reptile back.
San Diego authorities and park rangers reacted to the event. OnSceneTV reports the man was offered a citation to appear in court for the supposed theft. OnSceneTV did not determine the suspect and no other info was supplied.
The California Desert Tortoise, which reside in the Mojave area, are safeguarded by state and federal laws. Its status is noted as “threatened” on the California and Federal Endangered Species Lists.
