LA police give chase to giant tortoise

POLICE in Los Angeles have recaptured a giant tortoise called Clark after a brief chase.“The tortoise did try to make a run for it, but our officers are pretty fast,” the Alhambra Police Department said.

By The Newsroom
Tuesday, 5th August 2014, 1:00 am
Police in Los Angeles have recaptured a giant tortoise called Clark, like the one pictured, after a brief chase. Picture: Contributed
Police in Los Angeles have recaptured a giant tortoise called Clark, like the one pictured, after a brief chase. Picture: Contributed

It took two officers to manoeuvre the 150lb reptile, native to the southern fringes of the Sahara desert, into a police car. Clark was taken to an animal rescue centre, from where he was claimed by his owners.

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Keeping giant desert tortoises is illegal without a permit, but Clark’s owners will not be prosecuted. “We enjoy keeping families together, so an exception was made in this case,” police said.