Phoenix Tortoise Escapes, Neighborhood Rallies to Find Owner
A large tortoise named Rex escaped his temporary home in a Phoenix suburb, prompting a neighborhood effort to care for him and locate his owner. The incident highlights challenges of owning the giant reptiles.
A giant sulcata tortoise, nicknamed Rex, wandered onto a suburban Phoenix street one recent spring evening, baffling neighbors and sparking a community effort to reunite him with his owners. The tortoise's unexpected excursion through a residential neighborhood underscored the significant commitment and challenges involved in owning these massive reptiles, despite their popularity in the pet trade.
Sulcata tortoises, native to Africa, begin life as golf-ball-sized hatchlings but rapidly grow to become the third-largest tortoise species globally. While their importation into the U.S. was banned in the early 2000s, breeding and ownership remain legal. These tortoises can reach weights of up to 200 pounds and live for more than 150 years. Rex himself was described as at least a couple of feet long, significantly larger than the small plastic carriers some are sold in. "They're so damn cute, you can't help but say 'Oh, I want to take one or two of these home for my kids,'" said Dan Marchand, founder of the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. "But it doesn't take long before it's taken up your yard. It's tearing up your garden. It's knocking over furniture."
Despite their imposing size, sulcatas require expansive grassy enclosures for grazing, access to clean water, and dry, warm shelter, particularly during winter. Their natural inclination to dig also poses challenges for property owners. Marchand noted that many prospective owners are unaware of these needs, with sulcatas often marketed as novelties at reptile shows with minimal information provided about their extensive care requirements. "If you do your homework and you're prepared for the size and what they can do to your yard and if you give them the right set up, they can be a fantastic pet. You just have to be prepared," he advised.
The Challenges of Giant Tortoise Ownership
Marchand's sanctuary currently houses approximately 700 sulcatas, many of which were surrendered or found wandering. Similarly, the Eclecteri Tortoise & Reptile Rescue/Sanctuary in Casa Grande, Arizona, takes in around 1,250 sulcatas annually, referring an additional 1,000 to other facilities. "There's no government or county support for this species and the few private rescues that take them in are inundated each year," said owner Teri Boyungs. She explained that Arizona's climate facilitates easy egg hatching, with females capable of producing over 60 offspring per year. The majority of abandoned tortoises stem from owners who can no longer manage their care.
Rex's story took a fortunate turn when he was discovered by Sara Westfall's 5-year-old daughter during dinnertime. Initially mistaken for a lawn ornament, the sheer size of the tortoise quickly became apparent. Neighbors, including the author, gathered, sharing information and posting on social media platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor. Neighbors provided Rex with lettuce and consulted one another on how to proceed. He was eventually relocated to Westfall's backyard, where her daughter affectionately nicknamed him "Chicken Nugget." The Westfalls improvised a comfortable temporary habitat for Rex, ordering hay, digging a shallow pool, and ceasing lawn mowing to allow him to graze. They also posted "Large Tortoise Found" signs throughout the neighborhood.
After five days, Rex's owners, Frank and Brenda Boxberger, were located through one of Westfall's flyers. Boxberger had purchased Rex, then an adult, from a San Diego pet store about 15 years prior, drawn to his dinosaur-like appearance. Rex, estimated to be around 35 years old, had lived in the Boxbergers' Arizona backyard for 15 years, becoming a beloved, if somewhat destructive, family member. He even served as a "beer tortoise" at their daughter's wedding, carrying a beer cooler on his back. However, Rex's extensive digging made landscaping difficult, leading to his temporary relocation to his owner's mother's house, which was up for sale. Boxberger suspects Rex escaped when a visitor touring the property inadvertently left a gate ajar.
The Boxbergers' daughter saw Westfall's flyer and contacted them, leading to the reunion. While Westfall had grown fond of Rex, she could not commit to permanent ownership. The tortoise's future found a solution in Garret Beshey, a plumber working with the family buying the house where Rex had been staying. Beshey, who expressed reservations about the pet trade due to excessive breeding, welcomed the opportunity to adopt a sulcata tortoise. "I've always wanted [a sulcata]. I've just never wanted to purchase one, honestly, because I feel bad for purchasing, given the excessive breeding that goes on with these guys," Beshey stated. He planned to provide Rex with a spacious backyard and took home the supplies left by the Westfalls. Beshey even considered renaming the tortoise "Bowser," after the Super Mario character. The final challenge was coaxing the over 100-pound tortoise out of dense oleander bushes, a task Beshey accomplished by physically pulling Rex to freedom before loading him into his truck for his new life.