2 Louisville Nature Center box turtles are missing. What to know about Chocolate, Jack

Louisville Nature Center officials want two male box turtles to be returned after they were removed from their outdoor enclosure over the weekend.

When Nature Center staff returned to Illinois Avenue facility on Monday morning, they found a cinderblock had been removed from the enclosure and only three of the usual five turtles were inside, Executive Director Rebecca Minnick said.

"This is all pretty disappointing," she said.

One of the missing turtles, a staff and student favorite named Chocolate, is unable to dig a hole to hibernate in, meaning Nature Center staff have to bring it inside during the winter. The turtle, who the center estimates is around 15 years old, is also unable to fully retract into its shell for protection, Minnick said. The deformities are a result of Chocolate was not taken care of properly by a previous owner and may have been abandoned, as it was found wandering the premises of the Nature Center several years ago.

If Chocolate and the second missing turtle, Jack, were set free outside of the Nature Center, they would be challenging to find since they can blend into their environment, Minnick said.

Since Monday, Minnick said the Nature Center has contacted Louisville Metro Animal Services and a nearby pet shop to see if turtles like Chocolate and Jack had been turned in. The center also turned to social media to spread the word.

Minnick said the Nature Center does not want to press criminal charges against anyone, they just want the turtles back.

"We've heard from people offering their turtles, but we don't want other turtles, just our own," Minnick said. "We are grateful for the community responses."

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2 Louisville Nature Center box turtles are missing. What to know about Chocolate, Jack