‘Wildman Phil’ reunited with stolen reptiles, including ‘Stumpy’ the tortoise

On October 17, Philip Rakoci, aka "Wildman Phil," announced on Facebook that Stumpy the Tortoise had been kidnapped, along with the wildlife educator's 15 other beloved exotic reptiles.

The next morning, he was reunited with his reptilian friends, all unharmed.

"This 50lb African Spurred Tortoise with a wheel in place of his front left leg was taken along with approximately 15 other reptiles in a dark blue Suburban AZ plate TEDDIJO," Rakoci wrote on his Facebook wall.

Rakoci had recently arrived in Denver, Colarado, from Casa Grande, Arizona, with his reptiles — the naturalist and humourist brings his animals to schools to educate youngsters about often-creepy animals — when his vehicle was stolen from a Walmart parking lot, CBS News reported.

"It's pretty heartwrenching," Rakoci told ABC 15 at the time, referring specifically to Stumpy, the African Spurred Tortoise who uses a wheel as a fourth leg.

"He's pretty friendly for a tortoise," Rakoci said of the star of his educational show. "He loves people."

On October 18, firefighters recovered Rakoci's stolen SUV, unoccupied but with the engine still running. All 15 reptiles were inside, unharmed.

"Apparently the person, the people still had heart." Rakoci told CBS News. "They left the heater on so the animals could stay warm."

Rakoci was reunited with his animals that morning.