A large African spurred tortoise named Molly was discovered wandering slowly around Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba’s Interlake, far from her native habitat in the Sahara desert. The staff at the marsh, including nature interpreter Gillian Malchuk, were surprised to find Molly, who weighed 36 kilograms and stood out in the marsh environment.
After receiving reports of tortoise sightings, the staff initially thought it might be a common snapping turtle. However, a sighting logged on the iNaturalist app confirmed it was indeed an African spurred tortoise. Malchuk and her colleagues quickly located Molly in the parking lot, where she was being fed cucumbers and flower petals.
The staff took care of Molly until her owners were found through a social media post. They learned that Molly had been a part of the family for 15 years and had escaped through a gap in their backyard fence during renovations. Despite being reunited with her family, it remains a mystery how Molly traveled over 20 kilometers to reach the marsh.
One theory suggested by the staff is that a well-meaning person might have mistakenly believed that Molly belonged in a wetland environment. However, it is unlikely that Molly would have survived in the wetland due to her species’ inability to swim. The incredible journey of Molly, the adventurous tortoise, continues to puzzle those at Oak Hammock Marsh.