Tortoise returns home after traveling across three towns in Indiana

A 60-pound tortoise that escaped from a family's garage last month is back home after a 28-week adventure that took him through three northwestern Indiana towns.

Photo: Tortoise returns home after traveling across three towns in Indiana

Tortoise returns home after traveling across three towns in Indiana

Tank, an 8-year-old African spur thigh tortoise, was returned Wednesday to owners Mark and Kim Hirchak after they called Munster police to report him missing.

The couple had earlier called Highland and Hammond police, but Munster officers knew all about the missing reptile, which had turned up at a gas station.

During his absence, Tank was shuttled between various homeowners, including a couple whose backyard strawberry patch and flowers became his dinner.

Fourteen-year-old Kylie Hirchak said Tank, who escaped when someone left open a garage door, is like a member of the family. He's one of two tortoises the family owns.

"I'm really happy. It feels like we just found our lost brother or something," she said.

Tank's escape wasn't his first. He slipped out during a Fourth of July party last year and was found three days later at a post office about three miles away.