Missing tortoise considered stolen from Ohio zoo

Police in Ohio think they’re looking for a turtle-napper.

A 10-year-old gopher tortoise has disappeared from its exhibit at the Akron Zoo, and officials there say there’s no way it could have climbed out. A spokesman says zookeepers did a thorough search of the enclosure before deciding the animal must have been stolen and calling police.

The 8-pound tortoise, said to resemble a large, greenish-gray turtle, was last seen when the zoo closed Sunday at 5 p.m. Zoo staff noticed it was missing Monday morning.

The gopher tortoise was the only one in the Akron Zoo’s collection, and officials say they’re concerned about its health. It’s considered a vulnerable species that needs to be kept in warmer temperatures.