Missing tortoise found after attempted burglary at Lecompton sanctuary; story of bird recovered from stressful situation ‘goes viral’

The good Samaritan farmer and Kevin.

How about a happy little Lights & Sirens today?

Remember Kevin, the missing teen tortoise who escaped his home at the Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary in Lecompton after a burglar cut the chain lock on the sanctuary’s gate?

Well, a farmer found Kevin snacking on his soybean field yesterday, sanctuary owner and Kevin’s caretaker Kail Marie said. As it turns out, Kevin had himself quite the adventure, traveling about five miles from the sanctuary to the farmer’s field over a span of more than two weeks.

On Oct. 20, the 17-year-old, 75-pound and 2-foot wide tortoise took off with the sanctuary’s goats, chickens and pigs after someone left the gate open after attempting to steal a lawnmower on the sanctuary grounds.

The attempted burglar failed, however, leaving the mower in the middle of the driveway, Marie said. Kevin’s farm-animal accomplices returned home on their own after a while, but Kevin did not.

Marie was worried sick while the tortoise was on the loose. How does a tortoise the size of a preteen become impossible to find on the rolling plains of western Douglas County? She thought then that someone driving past their place between County Road 200 and 300 along Highway 40 spotted him on the shoulder of the road and took him for a pet.

She said she was thrilled to receive the call from the farmer who found Kevin. The farmer had been on his combine in the soybean field when he started noticing unusual patterns in his pasture, Marie said. Luckily, the farmer had been extra alert trying to figure out what kind of animal had made the markings, and when he saw the massive tortoise, he recognized it as Kevin and stopped the combine.

“Close call, Kevin,” Marie joked.

The good Samaritan farmer who spotted Kevin was offered $200 in reward money, but refused to take it, Marie said.

The tortoise’s trail appears as though he made a straight trip, trotting diagonally from the sanctuary indicated by the yellow figure in the upper right corner of the map image below to the farmer’s field in the bottom left corner.

The cold-blooded animal was out about 16 days, many of which had some frigid temperatures. Marie said when she got Kevin home, she gave him a hot shower to warm him up.

Marie said Kevin is a little dehydrated from his trek, and that she is taking him to Kansas State University veterinarians for a check-up. Other than that, he seems to be recovering well. Marie said that she’s been feeding him his favorite Romaine lettuce and even treating him to some bananas. Marie said fruit isn’t the best for tortoises, but Kevin loves them so much — and after his ordeal, he deserves a little pampering.


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As if Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary hasn’t had enough going on with Kevin, one special cockatoo they’ve recently taken in has “gone viral.” The bird’s story has appeared recently on CBS’s “Inside Edition,” Huffington Post, Dodo.com and more.

Javi (pronounced Ha-Vee) the cockatoo came to the parrot sanctuary from a stressful situation in a Junction City home on Sept. 30. Her previous owner was being evicted and called the sanctuary when she couldn’t take the bird with her, Marie said.

Marie said the sweet little bird reeked of “stale cigarette butts and rotted garbage,” but, most significantly, Javi was so stressed at her former home that she had plucked out nearly all of her own feathers.

This is Hobby. She just arrived here at the sanctuary this evening. Her band shows that she hatched in 1996. She smells…

Posted by Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary, Inc on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Marie said the 19-year-old cockatoo “is why we do what we do” at the sanctuary. She’d never had a bath before she came to the sanctuary, and they are giving her the best care they can. She’s dined on bananas and apples, been to the vet and is progressing well.

Javi’s original name was “Hobby,” but Marie said she changed it to Javi “because no living being should be someone’s hobby.” Marie said the bird loves to say her own name over and over again, and call herself a “pretty girl.” You can check her out in the video below.

We have decided to change Hobby's name to Javi, (pronounced "Ha vee") since no living being should be someone's hobby. She is becoming more confident and loves to explore as long as I'm close by.If anyone would like to donate for Javi's care as well as the others here in our care you can do so at our websitewww.tallgrassparrot.org#javitheparrot

Posted by Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary, Inc on Sunday, October 11, 2015

It’s unclear whether Javi’s feathers will grow back, Marie said. Sometimes the feathers do come back, but other birds never quite break their feather-pulling habit once they’ve learned it, Marie said.

“We have had success with many birds, but a lot of them never stop plucking,” Marie said. “It’s like someone chewing their fingernails is how I explain it to people.”