Stolen Tortoise Alert from Cornwall 14.6.09
 

I have just received this very sad email from Tortoise Garden in Cornwall. This happened today 14.6.09.

Please pass round to all tortoise owners :-(


I am very distressed, one of my “visitors” managed to somehow get into my baby pen and stole them all!!

I lost six beautiful baby hermanns and one 8 week old leopard and I am desperate for them to come home. Maybe you can alert tortoise owners and tell them to be vigilant if they hear of any tortoises for sale or newly acquired??? The leopard is very distinctive because his little tail points upwards instead of down so he is easily identifiable. I have photo’s of them. The man had to open a padlock, open a gate and then shut it behind him to get into the pen and reverse the procedure to come out and despite other visitors strolling around, no one saw him go into the pen. :x

The police are involved.

My thoughts are with the staff at Tortoise Garden.

Wendy

how very very sad :(:(

my thoughts go out to Joy

ive stickied this so that every one can see it and pass the word on

lets hope these torts can be found and returned to the sanctuary

What a complete (censored) man.
I hope you get them back
You told the police?

How very usetting for you

this is just so sad
Let's hope that they get found soon, and they are returned to their rightful owner :cry:

you can feel joy & geoffs pain :(:(

click the news bit on the left


http://www.thetortoisegarden.co.uk/MainPage.htm

Such a violation of trust. I have just emailed a message of support, it would be terrible if this lady closed the garden because of this :(

Some people need their hands chopping off! I just really hope that all of these babies are found and returned. I don't understand how someone could do something like that, its completely heartless not only to the owners but also to the tortoises involved.
Helen xx

Oh this is so sad I really hope they get them all back soon. My thoughts are with them:(

Really sad news.:(I hope they find their babies.I also hope police will find this man and he gets what he deserves.:twisted:Do they have security cameras?If no they really should put.I never been there as it's quite far from me but I'm visiting their website quite often as it looks very nice place and these people are doing brilliant job.

Do they know for sure it was that particular man? It seems strange that he was able to do what he did and then do it all in reverse again with people going about and while carrying 8 or 9 torts.

To open and lock the padlock he would have had to have a key otherwise he would be seen standing messing with it. For sure, he would have had to have been there before to know the layout. Do people go to look at the garden flowers or what or to see torts or what? Could they have escaped? Could they have been stolen another way, over a wall or something maybe?

Very sad in any case, I hope they get them back