Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe DUBUQUE, Iowa, April 4 (UPI) -- Officials at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Iowa said they were hoping for the safe return of an 18-pound leopard tortoise. Directors at the Dubuque facility said someone climbed the 4-foot-tall glass wall this week and walked off with Cashew the tortoise, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, reported Thursday. Advertisement "It could have been in a backpack or a large shopping bag or wrapped it in a coat," Executive Director Jerry Enzler said. Enzler said Cashew was part of an exhibit featuring more than 60 turtle species. Gail DeMoss, owner of New Earth Animal in Galena, said a tortoise like Cashew can fetch up to $2,000 on the black market. Enzler said the museum was more concerned about the animal's well-being than about her worth. "Whoever has it, we hope would call the museum and return it or at a minimum find out what's the best approach to keep the animal alive," Enzler said. Read More Tortoise Lonesome George to be embalmed Three charged with killing Fla. tortoises Century-old tortoise dies Rare tortoises seized in Bangladesh
