Posted 11/02/2004 05:31:00 PM by Douglas

Dude, where's my turtle? How down and out does your life have to get before you start stealing turtles?

A Moody Gardens electrician has been charged with stealing 15 tortoises from the popular tourist attraction, police said.

William L. Johnson Jr., 60, of Santa Fe, was arrested this morning and charged with theft, according to the Galveston County District Attorney's office. Johnson remained in the county jail late today in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

Johnson became a suspect after a man who purchased 13 red-footed tortoises and two Indian star tortoises from Johnson learned through the news media that they were stolen, officials said.

So it's come to this. A zoo employee has been busted stealing turtles. Next thing ya know, some elephant is going to die mysteriously of herpes. Oh wait, that happened, too.

Kimba, the beloved 13-year-old Houston Zoo elephant who died on Labor Day, succumbed, as suspected, to elephant herpes virus, laboratory tests confirmed.

Despite attempts to save her, the Asian elephant died 25 hours after exhibiting signs of a diminished appetite, swelling around the temple area and depression — all symptoms of the disease, which quickly attacks blood vessels after invading the body.

Some questions:

• How does an elephant get herpes?
• Depression is a sign of herpes? Should I get tested?

I had no idea it was this dangerous to work in a zoo.