A giant African spurred tortoise got lost while wandering on Logan city streets Monday afternoon and was picked up by animal control and taken to Willow Park Zoo, where it was soon reunited with its owner.

The 127-pound tortoise —  a 21-year-old named Timmy — quickly became a sensation at Willow Park Zoo, where several children took turns riding him.

According to Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff Curtis, the tortoise was found at about 3:15 p.m. in the area of 200 East and 200 North — near the Logan LDS Temple.

A couple of animal control officers loaded him into a vehicle and took him to the Logan zoo, where he was later claimed by his owner, Curtis Baird of Logan.

When Baird realized Timmy was missing, he started asking the neighbors if they had seen the giant reptile.

Whitney Hickman, who lives nearby, had not seen the tortoise.

“But it’s not like a dog,” she said. “I doubt that kind of thing goes unnoticed.”

Turns out, she was right. When she contacted animal control on Baird’s behalf, they were able to tell her where to find the tortoise. She went with Baird to get Timmy and bring him home, but not before several curious children ran over to check him out.

Baird, who said he owns nine tortoises, recently moved to Logan from Smithfield with his reptile herd. This is the second time this week Timmy has left his new surroundings, but Baird isn’t sure how the animal is getting away.

According to Rod Wilhelm at the Willow Park Zoo, the facility does not usually take in domestic pets.

“We do rehab on wildlife here — primarily birds,” he said earlier in the afternoon shortly after Timmy arrived. “This is not something we seek out, but rarely do we get anything like this.”

Timmy was quarantined in a holding area at the zoo until Baird claimed him.

Wilhelm said this species is not native to Utah but is more tolerant of the climate here in the valley than other species.

African spurred tortoises are natives of the southern Sahara desert in northern Africa. They are often kept as pets because of their pleasant temperament, according to several websites dedicated to the species.

It is recommended that when kept as pets, they are housed in temperate or warmer environments.

On Monday, Wilhelm said tortoises at the zoo are brought indoors when the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.