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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Stefano Esposito

Chonkosaurus, where are you? The hunt for Chicago’s celebrity snapping turtle

Sara Ruane, a Field Museum herpetologist, was part of the team that set off Wednesday in search of Chonkosaurus. But even her expertise didn’t help us find the elusive creature. (Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times)

The sun was already high in the sky when we embarked on our quest — hopeful, but uncertain of what lay before us.

Yes, the early bird catches the worm, but we weren’t scavenging for nightcrawlers. Our mission: to find Chonkosaurus, the fat-shamed snapping turtle that looks like it has been supplementing its diet of frogs, plants and fish with a side of Chicago-style pizza, Italian beef and maybe a deep-fried Twinkie or two.

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