Possibly depressed runaway tortoise slowed down traffic

A possibly depressed, 150-pound tortoise named Plato made a break for it and escaped from her owner’s Santa Fe home before being corralled on Tuesday morning by animal control officers on Old Santa Fe Trail, where he was backing up traffic.



The 15-year-old African spurred or sulcata tortoise was likely searching for her granddaughter Lola, who was visiting from San Diego and left on Sunday, Plato’s owner told Santa Fe police.


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“She (the owner) says the tortoise loves 8-year-old Lola who sings to him and feeds him kale,” police said. “Plato even lets her ride on his back and gets depressed when she leaves.”



Plato was found at about 10:30am and returned home. Police said that Lola was overjoyed to hear officers had been able to return Plato back to his home and she can't wait to visit him and grandma again.