Madrid, Spain - July 18, 2024

Officers from the Environmental Unit of the Municipal Police of Madrid successfully rescued a healthy and unharmed giant African tortoise weighing over 30 kilograms after it escaped from its home.

The operation unfolded following a citizen's call on the evening of July 18, reporting a large African spurred tortoise wandering in the Libra Street area of Aravaca. Responding swiftly, officers located the tortoise, which was found to be in good condition and active. The tortoise was identified through a microchip, prompting officers to contact its owner, who arrived promptly to retrieve it.

The tortoise's owner presented the required documentation, confirming its registration under the CITES regime, which governs the international trade and protection of endangered species and other wildlife.

However, the owner was cited under a municipal ordinance for failing to take adequate measures to prevent endangering the animal. The circumstances surrounding the tortoise's escape and its long journey from its owner's residence in Pozuelo de Alarcon remain unclear.