Hello! My 13-year-old leopard, Padme, escaped from her enclosure on Monday, 7/27. We live in condo/townhomes that all look identical. I'd really like to hear about others have lost and found their torts beyond a few nights gone. For background, our property backs up to a very large, very thick jungle. I got Padme as a hatchling and she's a super domesticated, people-loving, friendly girl. She always heads toward the forest/swamp when I let her wander, so I dove in and started to look -- but her shell is so hard to see against all the dead fronds and brush. There are areas where the jungle is very thick and areas where it's nice -- but none of it has much sun. I've looked and looked and looked and looked -- turned over every single frond, checked the base of every tree, ripped apart piles of bramble, waded through EVERY inch of fern for yards back and like a mile across.
My neighbors keep telling me they've seen her 2-5 days ago walking up to their doors, etc. I've searched high and low surrounding the neighborhood, every bush, on my hands and knees. I'm killing myself looking for her. I just can't stress it enough. I've hung up signs, talked to neighbors, posted all over social media in my area, called vets, called my HOA, etc. I'm getting really discouraged.
I feel like since people have seen her, and she's flirting with the woods' edge and their homes, she's around and not stolen. I cannot stress enough how difficult the woods are to traverse -- bogs, mangrove swamps, giant rotting trees, etc., all over. I'm sure there are raccoons, but no other major predators. What do you think?????? Do you think she'd go super super deep, like miles? I feel like not, because she seems to be coming up to doors to look for attention and food....but where is she???? When do I stop looking so hard and just wait??? I thought you guys might have expertise in this area. It's scary to know I've looked so hard and cannot find her. Thank you! BTW, she's about 20lb now and pretty large.
My neighbors keep telling me they've seen her 2-5 days ago walking up to their doors, etc. I've searched high and low surrounding the neighborhood, every bush, on my hands and knees. I'm killing myself looking for her. I just can't stress it enough. I've hung up signs, talked to neighbors, posted all over social media in my area, called vets, called my HOA, etc. I'm getting really discouraged.
I feel like since people have seen her, and she's flirting with the woods' edge and their homes, she's around and not stolen. I cannot stress enough how difficult the woods are to traverse -- bogs, mangrove swamps, giant rotting trees, etc., all over. I'm sure there are raccoons, but no other major predators. What do you think?????? Do you think she'd go super super deep, like miles? I feel like not, because she seems to be coming up to doors to look for attention and food....but where is she???? When do I stop looking so hard and just wait??? I thought you guys might have expertise in this area. It's scary to know I've looked so hard and cannot find her. Thank you! BTW, she's about 20lb now and pretty large.