PETA offering $5K reward in Georgia turtle ‘kidnapping’

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Officials at a Georgia nature preserve are desperately searching for five turtles they say were stolen last week. Now, PETA is trying to help.

PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the safe return of the turtles taken from the Autrey Mill nature preserve in Johns Creek and the conviction of those responsible.

Surveillance video shows three young teenagers walking into the box turtle enclosure and taking the turtles out of the preserve on September 19.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The nature preserve said the box turtles have all been raised in captivity and are very unlikely to survive in the wild. Box turtles are illegal to keep as pets in Georgia.

“Turtles know their ‘home range’ and will suffer every day that they’re separated from the home and caretakers that they know,” says PETA Senior Director of Cruelty Casework Stephanie Bell. “PETA is asking anyone who recognizes these suspects to come forward immediately so that these turtles can be safely returned home.”

Anyone who recognizes the suspects or has information about the turtles should call investigator R. Bucki at 678-474-1579 or rbucki@johnscreekga.gov.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

Lawsuit filed to protect Loggerhead Turtles endangered by maintenance at Port of Brunswick

©2021 Cox Media Group