Police rescue turtle taken from Taronga Zoo after Snapchat tip off

A turtle taken from Taronga Zoo was allegedly paraded on Snapchat before being rescued by police in south west Sydney.

A turtle snatched from Taronga Zoo was rescued by police after a woman allegedly boasted with photographs on Snapchat.

Police say a native eastern long-necked turtle was taken from its pond on Thursday and brought to a home in south west Sydney.

It is alleged a Padstow woman entered the pond, picked up a turtle and managed to leave the zoo without staff noticing.

The next day she posted pictures on the social media site Snapchat bragging about her efforts, police say.

A friend noticed the photograph and contacted a relative who worked in the zoo.

A search warrant was executed at the woman’s home on Saturday and the turtle was recovered in good health.

The RSPCA also also attended the rescue and identified the turtle by its microchip.

Police are investigating and the woman may be charged.

The turtle’s neck is about half the length of its shell. At Taronga the species is housed at Reptile World.

A police spokesman said such actions are “life threatening to the animals” and it is not known what her motive was.

The turtle has been returned to its pond at Taronga’s Reptile World after a health check.

“Police and the RSPCA acted to recover the turtle and it was returned to the zoo in the early hours of Saturday morning,” a statement from the zoo said.

“The turtle was taken to Taronga Wildlife Hospital for identification and a health check.”

Staff at the zoo are also understood to be looking through CCTV in a bid to piece together what happened.

Police believe that the zoo did not notice the turtle was missing and its pond was drained to conduct an audit to confirm the disappearance. Taronga Zoo could not comment on this.

Earlier this year both Queensland and Adelaide Zoos reported animals missing. A tarantula was stolen from the Queensland facility and a quokka was retrieved after being taken from Adelaide Zoo.

The eastern long-necked turtle is now back in its pond at Taronga Zoo and is in good health.

TURTLE FACTS

■ The eastern long-necked turtle is a widespread freshwater species in NSW

■ They are also sold as pets and can grow up to 26cm long

■ Also known as the eastern snake-necked turtle, it eats mostly worms, snails and insect larvae

■ Its long neck is about half the length of its shell

■ The species got its nickname ‘stinker’ from the pungent secretions it can make when disturbed

■ The turtles are also found in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.