A 30-pound tortoise found in the driveway of a Kaneohe home on New Year’s Day may be reunited with its owner.

The tortoise was turned over to the state Department of Agriculture to help determine its rightful owner after several people stepped forward to claim it Wednesday.

Since holding a news conference Tuesday to make a public appeal to find the tortoise a home, state Rep. John Mizuno said his office has been swamped with calls from people claiming to own it or who want to take it in.

"Our office was inundated with well over 50 calls," Mizuno said. "Some claimed to own the tortoise, others offered it a home. We even received calls from the mainland willing to have it shipped there. Our concern was that the proper protocol was followed and ensure that the tortoise is returned to its proper owner."

The tortoise, found by Kaneohe resident Jonathan Hanks in his driveway, was picked up Wednesday by agriculture officials with the expertise to determine its owners through photos and markings, Mizuno said.

"Hopefully in the future anyone who may find themselves in contact with an exotic animal turns it over to the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the animal is not carrying any communicable disease or invasive species," he said.