A "Houdini" tortoise now has to wear a bright yellow balloon whenever he ventures outside after the cheeky pet repeatedly tried to perform impressive feats of escapology.
Russian tortoise Elmo tried clambering over fence wire and burrowing into the garden, leaving owner Claudia Carter at her wit's end.
But keen to keep her three-year-old pet safe, she knew she had to come up with a solution, and decided upon tying a balloon under Elmo's belly to make him easier to spot.
The "cute" harness became needed after the tortoise kept making a run for it while let out on the lawn to roam around during hot weather.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here
Unbelievable photos show how Elmo was caught scarpering up a wire fence, before getting stuck multiple feet in the air mid-getaway.
Thankfully, Claudia says there's "no way" she can lose him now, as his yellow balloon is impossible to miss among green plants.
After the 20-year-old posted the video on social media, her clip attracted more than 82,000 views and more than 12,000 likes and comments from viewers.
Claudia, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said: "He's like Houdini trying to escape.
"We've lost him for hours in the past. We've been searching, cutting down hedges and digging.
"We had the idea to stick a balloon to him - we tied it around in a bow so he looked cute. The balloon makes sure he doesn't get lost.
"It makes us laugh because of how cute it is. It also puts it into perspective how little he is."
The concerned owner was keen to find a solution to ensure Elmo could keep enjoying the outdoors but without harming himself.
She explained: "His breed digs down to sleep, we worry he'll bury himself alive. If he gets out at night, we worry if it's too cold or how he'll eat.
"He always makes a beeline for under the trees because he wants to dig down."
"In the past, we've lost him for about four hours. People say tortoises are slow but they've never met Elmo - he's speedy."
But now she has found a solution, Elmo can keep playing without Claudia needing to worry.
"There's no way we could lose him with that around him. With the balloon I don’t think he can run away as easily as he once could and at least if he does we can find him," she said.
Do you have a story to share? We pay for stories. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
