The yellow bellied slider turtles were left at Hastings' Blue Reef Aquarium in a cardboard box by the man, who asked staff to look after the contents and left without giving any details.
Birders to Liuwa will be treated to glimpses of many winged critters that are rare in Zambia, such as the pink-billed lark, white-cheeked and blue-breasted bee-eaters, and red-crested and white-bellied korhaans.