Tortoise (I think) found at Forest Hill station

[soully]

Hi all,

I was exiting Forest Hill station tonight at about 10pm when I found what I think is a tortoise by the barriers, since there are no gardens or anything nearby I can only assume somebody intentionally left it there for someone else to find. If I'd have left it someone could have stepped on it, so it's now sitting in a cardboard box in my living room with some salad and a saucer of water.

Are there any tortoise/turtle experts nearby who could provide a home for the little guy (or know anyone in Forest Hill who's lost one)?

[bawdy-nan]

what a fantastic story ... good luck with the tortoise

[Nero]

Great story! Ring the RSPCA and tell The Sun! (Lots of scope for tortoise/train speed comparisons etc)

[Smoker]

I know this sounds silly but I saw a sign for a lost tortoise the other day. I think it may be been on a lamp post on goodrich road. will try and remember or have a look.

[Vick]

I saw the notice too. Definitely on Goodrich Road.

[Fuschia]

Tortoises are pretty rare. we had two as a child, both found wandering actually, and my sister still has one of them 35 yrs later

[Smoker]

I've PMed you the details from the poster. Please make sure you post heart-warming tale of tearful owners reunion with adventurous cold-blooded amphibian.

[Smoker]

PM me for phone number

[Fuschia]

Long way from Goodrich Rd to Forest Hill station!

[soully]

Thanks for your help guys (and cheers to Smoker for going out of your way), I'll give the number on the Goodrich road poster a call, you never know

He says hey

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/1505/img0368k.th.jpg

[Fuschia]

That looks more like a terrapin than a tortoise...

Pinched from a pond or lake by a heron maybe, and dropped?

[soully]

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That looks more like a terrapin than a tortoise...

>

>

> Pinched from a pond or lake by a heron maybe, and

> dropped?

We're thinking the exact same thing, it has webbed feet and from our web investigation this morning we're thinking it's one of these:

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-yellowbelly.htm

Time to call the RSPCA I think

[RosieH]

I like this story - it's like Animal Rescue but with more intrigue and no Rolf Harris.

[Smoker]

and what's wrong with Rolf?

[ianr]

Now you want a sign on a piece of cardboard. "See the wild terpin for 6d".

[GinaG3]

Oh wow, did you have any luck with the poster? I've had tortoise's all my life, they are beautiful creatures. My mothers friend found her giant tortoise on the side of the motorway, they do end up in funny places sometimes. If you end up needing to find a good home for the little guy PM me to let me know, my mother is currently looking for another tortoise, she currently has two that she has had for 13 years and 2 years.

[bonniebird]

Its a terrapin alright! Rather than the RSPCA see if you can google a rescue that deals with these. I will have a try, well done for helping it(tu)

[GinaG3]

Have only just seen the picture. That is definitely a terrapin.. RSPCA are your best bet, I believe a good few of this variety are unwanted and unfortunately get flushed down toilets and end up in drain systems and streams etc. Sad what some people will do, these are supposed to be very snappy and quite vicious. How are you finding him? He does need to be in water, but I'm guessing you know this :)

Good luck with him.

[Fuschia]

We have had quite a few of these over the years.. they start off like a 50p piece but end up like a dinner plate. Not found any to be snappy but they do outgrow their tanks if you look after them well!

We used to feed ours on bits of liver, I think you can also buy frozen food

[soully]

Well we've called the RSPCA and they're hopefully going to come take it off our hands today, so until then he is chilling in our bathtub, no bites so far but I haven't tried to share a bath with it just yet.

All a bit strange really, I've never sat on a 176 carrying a terrapin before.

[The Minkey]

It's quite possible it was a novel experience for you both ;-)

[Narnia]

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That looks more like a terrapin than a tortoise...

>

>

> Pinched from a pond or lake by a heron maybe, and

> dropped?

How does one know the difference? I've just seen one of them swimming in a pond in Peckham Rye Park. I was quite surprised. How might it have got there, experts?

[Brendan]

The one in Peckham Rye has been there for a few years. I've seen it before.

Terrapins have much flatter shells compared to rounded ones of tortoises, smoother scales and slightly webbed feet.

They?re also generally wet.

[bonniebird]

Narnia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Fuschia Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > That looks more like a terrapin than a

> tortoise...

> >

> >

> > Pinched from a pond or lake by a heron maybe,

> and

> > dropped?

>

> How does one know the difference? I've just seen

> one of them swimming in a pond in Peckham Rye

> Park. I was quite surprised. How might it have got

> there, experts?

If you had them side by side they are very different, I think that when they get too big, they grow to the size of a dinner plate, people "set them free" in ponds cos they can't cope anymore.

[MsDulwich]

Great work Soully...now start looking out for that missing TORTOISE :)