Tortoises are reputed to be slow movers, which is why Josephine Ciscaldi cannot understand how her 24-inch shelled pet managed to sneak out of her garden unnoticed.

“We’re very surprised at the fact that it managed to get away without anyone noticing,” Ms Ciscaldi said. The missing female tortoise had been part of her family for about 18 years but was never given a name.

“We miss her and so do our grandchildren when they come over. They like playing with her,” she said referring to her pet as Il-fekruna (the tortoise), adding that anyone who found the pet would be rewarded.

Her husband, Joe, explained that, years back, a friend of theirs had given them two “tiny” tortoises as a gift.

At the time, he had a field and let them roam freely there.

“They are a breed from Kenya and can grow very big as they live up to about 200 years. They eat anything, including pasta and rice,” he said, adding he was not sure whether his two female tortoises were sisters as “I never saw their birth certificate”.

When he and his family moved to Kappara, they took their pets with them and let them roam in the garden. On July 13, the Ciscaldis hosted a party at their house and, the following day, they could not find one of their nameless pets. They later realised someone had left the gate open and the reptile must have wobbled its way out onto the street. When they asked around with neighbours they were told that a man had picked up the tortoise and asked who it belonged to. The couple are now hoping the man took their pet home and will return it once he hears about them. They are asking for anyone who knows anything to spread the message so that they can be reunited with their scaly friend.

They even placed adverts in newspapers and put up posters of the “lost, big tortoise” saying anyone who finds her will be rewarded. The family are not specifying what type of reward will be given.

Anyone who has information and call on 9949 2054/9947 0628.