A man attempting to go through security at Newark Liberty International Airport was stopped after being discovered with a live turtle concealed in his pants, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported.
The turtle appeared to be unharmed and it was not known why the man was carrying the live reptile on the flight.
The TSA’s body scanner triggered an alarm in the area of the man’s groin and an officer administered a pat-down and determined that there was something concealed. The East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania man reached down the front of his pants and pulled out a live turtle that was wrapped in a small blue towel. The turtle was estimated to be about 5-inches in length.
The man told officials that it was a red-ear slider turtle. Port Authority Police then questioned the man took possession of the turtle and indicated that they would contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local animal control officials. The man missed his flight and was escorted out of the checkpoint by police.
It was not known why the man was carrying live turtle.
“I commend our officer who conducted the pat-down in a very professional manner in an effort to resolve the alarm,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey.
“We have seen travelers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes and in their luggage, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants. As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions,” Carter added.