The alligator snapping turtle, which is known for amputating people’s fingers, was rescued by a city councilor who put it in a shopping cart.
Saturday 10 February 2024 15:53 UK
A “dangerous” turtle with jaws strong enough to crush bones has been discovered in Cumbria and given an unexpected name by the vets caring for it.
Alligator snapping turtles live in the rivers and swamps of Florida and can be recognized thanks to their armor-like carapaces, which give them the appearance of prehistoric dinosaurs.
After several sightings, the freshwater reptile was recovered from the side of Urswick Tarn by local parish councilor Dennis Chamberlain, who put it in a shopping cart and took it to the vet.
Dr Dom Moor told Sky News he was “absolutely surprised” when Mr Chamberlain brought in the turtle.
He thought the mysterious reptile might be a loggerhead sea turtle or a soft-shelled turtle. “I never expected it to be an alligator snapping turtle,” he said.
Dr Mohr added that it was probably abandoned by an exotic pet owner who didn’t realize how difficult it was to care for.
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Veterinary staff are currently unable to determine the sex of the turtle due to its relatively small size, but that hasn’t stopped them from naming it.
“We colloquially named them ‘Fluffies,'” Dr. Mohr said. “It’s strangely cute, so I gave it a cute name.”
After many people asked to adopt Fluffy, it was decided that the reptile would be transferred to a specialist wildlife center in Cornwall.
Ms Chamberlain urged owners of exotic pets who feel unable to care for their animals to contact agencies such as the RSPCA and branded staff at Wild Side Vets in Barrow as “heroes” in the fight against turtles. praised.
Encyclopedia Britannica says the alligator snapping turtle is an invasive species that is “known” to “easily” chew through bones and amputate human fingers.
Turtles are usually hunters who eat fish, frogs, small mammals, and even other turtles. It can grow up to 100cm in length and 90kg in weight.
