Two critically endangered tortoises that were stolen from the Indianapolis Zoo earlier this month were found safe Tuesday, authorities said.

The tortoises were found in a box at Falls Park in Pendleton, In., roughly 37 miles away from the zoo.

Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Pendleton police got a call from people who said they found a cardboard box with the turtles inside while walking on a sidewalk behind the park's museum.

Authorities said the callers told them the box had "a paper plate on top with a note referencing the Indianapolis Zoo."

Police arrived at the park to collect the tortoises within minutes of receiving the call, authorities said.

The tortoises were positively identified by a microchip scan as the two that were reported stolen .

One of the tortoises is an Egyptian torto

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