Clay Davenport
Cerebral Nomad
PALMDALE, Calif. - Hank the Tank is missing and feared dead.
The desert tortoise roamed an enclosed yard at Cimarron Elementary School for the past two academic years. His owner, first- and second-grade teacher Patricia Bentley, wanted students to see some wildlife amid the area's urban sprawl and learn how to care for animals.
When she returned from the Memorial Day holiday, however, Bentley found blood stains and feces scattered around outside her classroom, where Hank was kept. She believes somebody climbed the fence and bludgeoned him to death.
"They beat him senseless," said Bentley, who is offering $500 for the return of the tortoise, alive or dead. "It's just unconscionable that anyone would do anything like that."
Bentley said a student reported finding an injured Hank and taking him to a veterinarian, but later claimed the animal was released into the wild.
Desert tortoises are a threatened species under both state and federal protection. People who are convicted of harming the reptiles or removing them from their habitat can be fined or imprisoned.
"I don't understand going out and taking something that is a benign creature and harming it," said Don Williams, president of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club.
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The desert tortoise roamed an enclosed yard at Cimarron Elementary School for the past two academic years. His owner, first- and second-grade teacher Patricia Bentley, wanted students to see some wildlife amid the area's urban sprawl and learn how to care for animals.
When she returned from the Memorial Day holiday, however, Bentley found blood stains and feces scattered around outside her classroom, where Hank was kept. She believes somebody climbed the fence and bludgeoned him to death.
"They beat him senseless," said Bentley, who is offering $500 for the return of the tortoise, alive or dead. "It's just unconscionable that anyone would do anything like that."
Bentley said a student reported finding an injured Hank and taking him to a veterinarian, but later claimed the animal was released into the wild.
Desert tortoises are a threatened species under both state and federal protection. People who are convicted of harming the reptiles or removing them from their habitat can be fined or imprisoned.
"I don't understand going out and taking something that is a benign creature and harming it," said Don Williams, president of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club.
Link