Reward offered for turtles stolen from Georgia preserve

Five recently hatched Four-eyed Turtles are seen at the Tennessee Aquarium. These endangered reptiles were hatched in June from eggs laid in April 2020. / Photo by Casey Phillips/Tennessee Aquarium Five recently hatched Four-eyed Turtles are seen at the Tennessee Aquarium. These endangered reptiles were hatched in June from eggs laid in April 2020. / Photo by Casey Phillips/Tennessee Aquarium

By Associated Press October 1, 2021 1 min read

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. (AP) — An animal rights groups is offering a reward to try to recover five turtles that were stolen from a nature preserve in an Atlanta suburb.

The box turtles were taken last week from the Autrey Mill nature preserve in Johns Creek, WSB-TV reports. Surveillance video shows three people enter the turtle enclosure on Sept. 19 and take the animals out of the preserve.

The nature preserve says the turtles were raised in captivity and are unlikely to survive in the wild.

People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering up to $5,000 for their return and the conviction of those who took them.