Giant Tortoise Draws Crowds at Village Market, Brings Lottery Luck
A giant African spurred tortoise named Folk at a Pathum Thani market has become a local sensation, with visitors examining shell markings for lottery numbers and claiming repeated wins after encounters with the animal.
On July 30, shoppers at Petchkasem 13 Village market in Pathum Thani Province gathered around a giant golden-hued tortoise drawing crowds and attracting numerous visitors taking photographs. Many residents examined the numbers visible on the tortoise's shell with great interest and excitement.
The tortoise's owner, Ms. Nalinton, identified the animal as an African spurred tortoise (Sulcata), the largest land tortoise in Africa and third-largest in the world. She explained that Folk, her eight-year-old male tortoise purchased for 2,500 baht, regularly strolls through the market and remarkably finds his way home independently without assistance.
While the owner does not gamble herself, she noted that many people have won lottery prizes after encountering Folk. One laundry shop owner in particular has become a regular visitor who chats with the tortoise before purchasing lottery tickets, and has reportedly won the jackpot for ten consecutive draws without explanation. A fried fish vendor also touched Folk's shell, identifying numbers 8 and 0 as prominent markings and plans to use them for the next lottery draw.
