Some of my fellow citizens call land-turtles turtles (technically correct as all tortoises are turtles), others call them tortoises (correct and more specific in differentiating from aquatic turtles), others (incorrect) call them terrapins. I think it depends on the part of the country and one's heritage. And, of course, how one prepares and eats the animal. So, I can see a tortoise, turtle, or terrapin wandering around, but once I decide to catch, kill, cook, and eat it, it is termed a turtle - at least in the region where I was raised.
Here in the hot desert of central Arizona, a few people quietly breed endangered giant tortoises to increase both the numbers and the genetic diversity; the breeders coordinate with wildlife specialists and zoos. Occasionally one of these massive creatures escapes and wanders down the road. More people keep giant African tortoises as pets, and they also get loose and sprint at 0.05 mph down the road.