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'Incredibly aggressive' terrapin grabs diver in Looe estuary | 'Incredibly aggressive' terrapin grabs diver in Looe estuary |
(1 day later) | |
A diver found a "very aggressive" turtle native to America attached to his upper leg when he was coming out of a Cornish estuary, an aquarium says. | A diver found a "very aggressive" turtle native to America attached to his upper leg when he was coming out of a Cornish estuary, an aquarium says. |
The man had been diving in the Looe estuary last week when he found the red-eared terrapin on his limb. | The man had been diving in the Looe estuary last week when he found the red-eared terrapin on his limb. |
It was later offered a permanent home at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium. | |
The aquarium said the freshwater creature - thought to be a dumped unwanted pet - was "doing well". | The aquarium said the freshwater creature - thought to be a dumped unwanted pet - was "doing well". |
Ninja Turtles obsession | Ninja Turtles obsession |
Blue Reef curator Paul Strachan said the diver initially contacted the town's Clifton Villas veterinary surgery, which cared for it before it came to the aquarium. | Blue Reef curator Paul Strachan said the diver initially contacted the town's Clifton Villas veterinary surgery, which cared for it before it came to the aquarium. |
He believed it had been dumped in the water a few days previously. | He believed it had been dumped in the water a few days previously. |
He said: "It is pretty uncommon for a terrapin to approach someone in the water and grab hold of them, but this one was very lucky he did. | He said: "It is pretty uncommon for a terrapin to approach someone in the water and grab hold of them, but this one was very lucky he did. |
"They are incredibly aggressive, and this little guy had become very aggressive as he had been mistreated. | "They are incredibly aggressive, and this little guy had become very aggressive as he had been mistreated. |
"When I arrived to pick him up from the vets, he was trying to bite my fingers. The diver didn't realise it was attached to his upper leg. | "When I arrived to pick him up from the vets, he was trying to bite my fingers. The diver didn't realise it was attached to his upper leg. |
"The terrapin had an infection from going from a warm tank to the cold but is now doing well. He is becoming quite a character." | "The terrapin had an infection from going from a warm tank to the cold but is now doing well. He is becoming quite a character." |
The omnivorous creatures can live for more than 50 years, feeding on fish, insects and water plants. | The omnivorous creatures can live for more than 50 years, feeding on fish, insects and water plants. |
Although native to north America, it is thought many were bought for children in Britain obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series in the 1980s and 90s. | Although native to north America, it is thought many were bought for children in Britain obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series in the 1980s and 90s. |
Mr Strachan said people often bought the "cute little creatures", not realising they would grow. | Mr Strachan said people often bought the "cute little creatures", not realising they would grow. |
He said: "Red-eared terrapins begin life as these incredibly miniature reptiles which are about the size of a box of matches. | He said: "Red-eared terrapins begin life as these incredibly miniature reptiles which are about the size of a box of matches. |
"Within a few short years, however, they can reach 30cms (1ft) or more, and that's when people start abandoning them. | "Within a few short years, however, they can reach 30cms (1ft) or more, and that's when people start abandoning them. |
"Many of the country's waterways have become dumping grounds for terrapins. | "Many of the country's waterways have become dumping grounds for terrapins. |
"That is posing a potential threat to native species of wildlife, which simply can't cope with sharing their habitat with these aggressive invaders." | "That is posing a potential threat to native species of wildlife, which simply can't cope with sharing their habitat with these aggressive invaders." |
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