After decades of basking in the yard of a family home, this is the moment a 30-year-old alligator snapping turtle made a break for it before stopping in the middle of the road.
The escape attempt happened in Chenghai Town, in China's Yunnan Province, on 6th August.
Surveillance footage shows the large turtle crawling out of a gate and onto a busy street.
It pauses before a white car pulls up, and the driver gets out, picks it up by the tail and places it in the boot, before driving away.
The driver later told police he had no idea how the turtle had ended up on the road but as it was alive, he did not want to just leave it there.
The turtle’s owner, Ms Zhang, said she had raised it for over 30 years after rescuing it from being killed when fishermen caught it in Chenghai Lake.
It now weighs more than 30 kilos (66 lbs) and lives alongside a smaller snapping turtle at the family’s farm stay, where guests often play with it.
Ms Zhang said the smaller turtle had refused to eat or drink since its companion went missing.
Police said they checked surveillance footage and spent two days tracing the car before finding the driver and recovering the turtle.
The owner said she hopes to reward him for removing the animal from danger.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-01.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Passing driver takes a pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, Aug. 6, 2025. The owner hopes the driver would return it. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-02.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Picture shows the turtle, undated. It escaped the house and was taken by a passing driver in Yongsheng County in China. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-03.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Picture shows a woman holding the found turtle, undated. The police returned the turtle. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-04.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Passing driver takes a pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, Aug. 6, 2025. The owner hopes the driver would return it. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-05.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Passing driver takes a pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, Aug. 6, 2025. The owner hopes the driver would return it. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-06.jpg Copyright: AsiaWire/NX
Description: Passing driver takes a pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, Aug. 6, 2025. The owner hopes the driver would return it. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)
NewsX-TurtGetor-01.mp4 Video Copyright: AsiaWire/NX Video Caption: Caption: Passing driver takes a pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, Aug. 6, 2025. The owner hopes the driver would return it. ***Video Licence Restrictions: NEWS MEDIA PORTALS ONLY. Usage on social media is possible but we offer no guarantees. This video is offered under our ‘social and local media source’ licence. For details see https://newsx.agency/licences/
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NewsX-TurtGetor-02.mp4 Video Copyright: AsiaWire/NX Video Caption: Caption: Video shows the pet alligator snapping turtle in Yongsheng County in China, undated. It was returned to owner. ***Video Licence Restrictions: NEWS MEDIA PORTALS ONLY. Usage on social media is possible but we offer no guarantees. This video is offered under our ‘social and local media source’ licence. For details see https://newsx.agency/licences/ For terms visit: https://asiawire.newsx.agency
