Pet tortoise lost in Mississippi tornado reunited with family

Myrtle the Tortoise reunited with Family after tornado escape

Robert Besser
18 Apr 2025, 15:16 GMT+10

Pet tortoise lost in Mississippi tornado reunited with family

Myrtle, a beloved pet tortoise, is back with his family in Mississippi after being lost for weeks during a deadly tornado in March
The Emanuel family had to leave their home in Kokomo on March 15 when the tornado hit, but when they came back, they found two pine trees had fallen on Myrtle’s outdoor shelter—and he was gone
Weeks later, a neighbor found Myrtle hurt and brought him to the Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue for treatment on April 4

KOKOMO, Mississippi: Myrtle, a beloved pet tortoise, is back with his family in Mississippi after being lost for weeks during a deadly tornado in March.

"He's been through a lot," said his owner, Tiffany Emanuel. "I'll be there for him, taking care of him and making sure he gets what he needs."

The Emanuel family had to leave their home in Kokomo on March 15 when the tornado hit. When they came back, they found two pine trees had fallen on Myrtle's outdoor shelter—and he was gone.

Weeks later, a neighbor found Myrtle hurt and brought him to the Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue for treatment on April 4.

"The woman who found him said she had met the owners," said Christy Milbourne, who runs the rescue center. "She told me they would probably call—and they did. They said, ‘That's our tortoise!'"

Now, Emanuel is helping Myrtle heal.

"It feels good to have a little happiness after so much sadness and loss," she said.

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