Maryland's mascot catches fire, recovers with energy drink and Band-Aids

Maryland's statue of its mascot, Testudo, caught fire. The rest is social media history.

Testudo, the turtle mascot for the University of Maryland, has his own statue on the College Park campus. During finals, the statue serves as a place of good luck offerings for students hoping to do well on exams.

Someone wrapped Testudo in a sweater and gave him a Christmas tree 🐢 #happyfinals#umdpic.twitter.com/fftx6XIhjR

— Amanda (@amanda_witt) December 16, 2013

No one is sure whether those offerings actually do anything to help the outcomes of those finals, but we now know one thing they can do: catch fire.

Sometime past midnight Tuesday, Testudo was ablaze after those offerings caught fire, according to several witnesses who expressed their shock on social media.

Pictures of Testudo ablaze were all over Twitter.

whoever lit testudo on fire has a guaranteed F in all their classes SMH 🐢🔥 pic.twitter.com/rNlws3oskO

— sange (@alymeyerr) December 18, 2013

As were images of his brave recovery.

Happy to report that Testudo appears to be recovering nicely! #TestudoStrong#UMDpic.twitter.com/BOx4Vj3vMI

— Mila Johns (@milaficent) December 18, 2013

Nothing a Band-Aid and a Rockstar energy beverage can't fix, though some moisturizing lotion was donated to the cause, too. (In case Testudo's skin gets dry during recovery, of course.)

In case the fire damaged Testudo's skin... pic.twitter.com/DgU01tM9JR

— John Domen (@JDonWNEW) December 18, 2013

The statue appears to be undamaged by the blaze, though there were some very NSFW losses that will never be recouped: some poor soul lost a perfectly decent sex toy to the blaze. (Like we said: very NSFW.)

Maryland's police department reported the fire was an accident.