'Howard, we have found a terrapin!' was unexpected but even as I wandered over to where they were standing i was still expecting a usual sized red-eared-type variety. i looked down and there the grass was a bloomin 'oooge great beast sitting it the grass looking sorry for itself! At first it looked like a tortoise due to the shell patterning but as I got close I realised that it was too flat and we were back with terrapins again. i thought it was actually dead and a gently poke with my toe produced an agry hiss and sudden appearance of a beak..... no simple little pond terrapin here but a Snapping Turtle with a prehistoric head and neck and a frilled Stegosaurus tail!
Anyway, after some maneuvering I managed to encourage it into a bucket whilst avoiding the 'bill' and long curved claws whilst using a carrier bag as makeshift gloves! It was certainly not underfed and filled the bucket with a good weight. A sudden downpour gave us the opportunity to let it get wet and rehydrate before taking it to the amazing Thurrock Wildlife Hospital who checked it out and have already sent it to a good new home in Wales!
And some footage from Mark Hart once at the hospital.....
11-7-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer