Lost baby tortoise...

[Otto]

cross-posting - terribly sad... (and it is not a cat)

Hi -

One of our baby tortoises (about a month old) has found his way out of our garden. I think his chances are very small on his own and our chances of finding him are even smaller - but - if you see a tiny tortoise a little bigger than a two pound coin, please pm me - I am offering a reward...melbourne grove vicinity...if you do find him, please do not feed him anything but clover or dandelion or a bit of water...

thanks, heartbroken otto

[PeckhamRose]

Awww that's so sad! Do let us know if you find him!

[Otto]

thanks...will do...I am guessing it is a bit hopeless, but, you never know...

it belongs to my almost four year old son...

xo, otto

[chuff]

oh dear, that is a worry

Can you put a notice on your front gate and leaflet the neighbours?

I'm sure people would be happy to have a look around their gardens for him.

good luck with the hunt and I hope you find him soon

[Otto]

Thanks for the kind words - - yes - I have - though our poster came down in the rain last night. There is this vast bowling green behind us...the bowlers are looking, but there are probably several ways out. We had a walk around there yesterday and they were most kind agreeing to take a look as well. But - as he is a fresh soft newborn tortoise, the blackbirds, magpies and wood pigeons would probably like to have him for tea...

Not a good thought, but, a realistic one unfortunately.

Henry his brother tortoise is looking quite glum.

Best, Otto

[PeckhamRose]

I just had a vision of one of the bowlers picking him up and bowling him along a nice green turf and then wondering why he was moving a bit further than he had been bowled. Poor little thing! Put an Immobilise sticker on the remaining ones! See my threads re. the burglaries.

[Xanadustar]

Oh dear Otto, as a fellow tortoise owner, I do sympathise. We lost ours quite a few times in the early days (they're great diggers) but they always turned up. Best of luck to you.

[Otto]

yeah...the bowlers...makes an interesting set of possibilities...

xo, otto

[themusetrap]

Otto,

I am sorry to hear you lost that poor tortoise. It is so sad, especially with what may have happened to him. I am a tortoise owner - and my heart goes out to you - I saw your picture and they are precious little guys. The problem is that you need to keep them inside when they are that tiny - unless you are supervising them or have them in a contained area outside that is predator proof. It is quite easy for a magpie to snatch one up. In fact on the tortoise trust they talk about a magpie snatching a small tortoise and taking it to the roof for a meal. The owner could do nothing but stare in devastation. You still have one little guy who needs to be protected. Please think about a predator proof tortoise pen of taking a section of your garden and enclosing it - as well as putting something on the top so that birds can't get in. A friend of mine had 2 small red ear slider turtles and was so upset when she went back outside and checked on them one was gone. She had them in a tupperware container with no protection from birds. She searched her yard and found him pecked to death with pieces missing. And that was just after a few minutes of being left alone. The other turtle had a few cuts where it looked like a bird tried to pick him up but he had jammed himself beneath rocks. She couldn't afford a vet so I took the turtle and still have him. I pray that you find him hiding in your garden - keep looking perhaps the little guy will be smart enough to burrow in and hide.

Jen

[Michael Palaeologus]

On that happy note .....

[Scruffy Mummy]

nowhere else but on the East Dulwich Forum....

[Otto]

hi yes. They live inside. They were outside having some sun in a predator proof enclosure. I also had been checking on them periodically, and sitting with them on work breaks. I haven't the slightest idea how he got out, and there were no signs of anything getting in.

Needless to say, we are hovering over the remaining one now when he suns outside.

And we have hired the bowlers to build an amazing series of scarecrows on the sides of the green.

Just kidding, xo, otto

[themusetrap]

Perhaps you will find him then if he couldn't get out of the enclosure perhaps he burrowed in.

My thoughts are with you.

jen

[Otto]

Thanks jen...

We have sifted...

A new houdini-proof enclosure has been built. We are getting henry the remaining tortoise two new tortoise friends shortly...and the gardeners have been summoned to rebuild perimeter fencing...

xo, otto

[PeckhamRose]

Did you find him?

Is the Houdini proof enclosure preventing him getting back home, though??

Meanwhile, this sad story appeared today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7517787.stm

[Otto]

Hi...

No sign of him...I only must hope he is having a lovely time somewhere else in East Dulwich...perhaps he is out cloning bank cards to get by on his own...

;)