A tortoise named Molly, an African spurred species originally from the Sahara desert, was discovered at Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba’s Interlake, far from her natural habitat. The staff at the marsh were surprised to find Molly, who weighed 36 kilograms, roaming around the wetland. The nature interpreter, Gillian Malchuk, and her colleagues rescued Molly after receiving reports of a tortoise sighting in the area.
Initially, the staff thought the sightings were of a snapping turtle, a common species native to Manitoba. However, after a sighting was logged on the iNaturalist app, they realized it was indeed an African spurred tortoise. The staff quickly located Molly in the parking lot and took her in, providing her with food and care until they could reunite her with her owners.
Molly’s family had been looking for her and eventually found her through a social media post. They had owned Molly for 15 years and raised her since she was a baby. It is believed that Molly escaped through a gap in their backyard fence during renovations. Despite her escape, Molly managed to travel about 20 kilometers to Oak Hammock Marsh, leaving everyone puzzled about how she made the journey.
One theory suggests that a well-meaning individual may have relocated Molly to the wetland, thinking it was a suitable habitat for her. However, given that tortoises cannot survive in such environments, it remains a mystery how Molly ended up at the marsh. Regardless, the staff at Oak Hammock were able to safely return Molly to her family, who were overjoyed to see her again.