AUSTIN, Texas, June 6 (UPI) -- A frantic university student in Texas has been reunited with his 40-pound African Spurred tortoise named Spot that went missing from his yard a week ago.
Austin Sherrill, 21, said he first noted 7-year-old Spot missing from the back yard on Memorial Day, and the gate to the yard swinging open.
One of his first fears was that someone had planned to dump Spot into Town Lake in Austin, Texas.
As Spot is a desert dweller, he can't swim, the Austin American-Statesman said.
Sherrill posted 100 fliers around the neighborhood and notified neighbors to be on the lookout for the tortoise.
He called wildlife rescue groups, veterinary clinics, the animal shelter and the Austin Zoo with no success.
Sunday, Sherrill got a call from a man who said he had found a tortoise munching on grass along the hike and bike trail in a park, about 4.5 miles from Sherrill's home.
An elated Sherrill drove Spot home, and told the newspaper he doesn't believe Spot made the journey on foot, but rather was picked up by someone who drove him to the park.
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