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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- "Bring Butti back." It's not the latest dance move, it's what The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is asking of whoever stole their tortoise.

Butti is a 13-year-old rare Indian Star Tortoise.

Zoo officials think he was stolen Sunday afternoon from his exhibit in "The Loft." 

"The Loft opened in 2008, and we've had well over a million visitors since it opened, and this has never ever happened before," Katie Borremans, Public Relations Manager at the zoo, said. "It's such a great place for guests to come and experience the animals, really connect with the animals in an open environment. Unlike some of the other areas of the zoo, you can really get up close and personal, touch the animals... so for this to happen after so long is disappointing."

Zookeepers said they are baffled by the tortoise thief.

"That is the question that is on everyone's mind, why would you take a tortoise from the zoo?" Ashley Young, a zookeeper at The Loft, said. "They are cute. They are popular in the pet trade. It could have been seen as someone they wanted to take home and have as a pet, but we honestly really don't know."

Zoo officials think someone reached over the glass, picked up Butti and walked off with him, but more important than how, or why, is getting Butti back and reuniting him with his brother Tutti.

"He's definitely aware of the fact that he's gone," Young said of Tutti.

Zoo officials said they won't press charges if Butt is brought back safe and sound.

"Your best bet is to just give us a call, let us know that you have Butti," Borremans said. "He has to be kept warm, so we don't want him just dropped off anywhere."

Butti's caretakers said he requires special food and attention.

"Like any animal, especially an exotic animal, they do require specialty care. He is from India, he's not a tortoise here from the states so they're not used to this climate," Young said. "You have to make sure you have the right heat and humidity, without that it can cause a lot of damage to their shell and upper respiratory conditions as well."

They said each day that goes by decreases Butti's chances of survival.

"Give us a call, no questions asked," Borremans said.

Zoo staff members are trying to push on without him.

"To have him gone is really hard, he's been a member of our zoo family for a really long time," Young said.

Zoo officials said they are viewing this as an isolated incident and have no plans to change the exhibit, but are considering adding a security camera.

"We don't want to ruin that experience for guests because of one bad apple," Borremans said. "We'll certainly be keeping an eye on things, but we don't want to change the way that people are connecting here at the zoo."

Anyone with information is asked to call 719-633-9925 ext. 140.