As of: February 13, 2024, 6:09 a.m
By: Julian Mayr
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A miniature dinosaur appears in England.
It is a reptile that can be dangerous not only to humans but also to the ecosystem.
Ulverston/England – The nickname “Fluffy” certainly suits some animals.
Dogs with thick fur, for example, or even bears, although they can sometimes come dangerously close to people.
But some animals wouldn't actually be classified as fluffy.
However, a specimen that a hiker came across in England was still christened with the sweet-sounding name.
An encounter with the animal can be very painful.
Snapping turtle fished from British waters
What was fished out of a pond near Ulverston, England, on Monday (February 5) looks like a miniature dinosaur.
As British media report, a hiker is said to have come across a particularly striking species of turtle while walking with his dog.
Because he shared the discovery of the unusually spiny and fearsome reptile on Facebook, local councilor Denise Chamberlaine became aware of it, according to the
Guardian
.
Chamberlain, who had kept turtles as pets and lived in Florida for some time, identified the animal as an alligator snapping turtle.
Typically, this species is only native to the United States.
“These species are invasive, they are not native, and I knew they would upset the balanced ecology of the pond,” the
Guardian
quoted the councilor as saying.
Alligator snapping turtle “Fluffy” fished out of the water with a shopping basket
The potentially harmful turtle had to get out of the water, that much was certain.
But the snapping turtle, which is not called alligator for nothing, is not only a danger to local ecosystems.
The creature's pointed mouth can cost unwary people a finger.
“At this size they could cause a nasty bite, but as they get bigger they can weigh up to 80kg and cause some damage,” warns vet Dominic Moule to
the BBC
.
Given the impending danger, Chamberlain reported to media that there was great excitement in capturing the turtle.
Equipped with three layers of construction gloves, she fished “Fluffy” out of the water using a shopping basket and took her to a veterinarian.
There they were just as happy about the rare rescue operation: “I’m sure that if the animal had been left there, it would have become invasive and would have eaten everything in the water,” Moule is sure.
An alligator snapping turtle, which is actually native to southern waters in the USA, was recently found in England.
(Symbolic image) © Michelle Gilders/imago/imageBROKER/alimdi
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Dangerous snapping turtle “Fluffy” possibly abandoned by owner
How “Fluffy” ended up in a habitat that was unnatural for this turtle species has not yet been clarified.
Kate Hornby, the owner of the veterinary clinic where the reptile was taken, has a suspicion: The animal may have been kept as a pet and the owners could no longer cope with the care requirements or simply didn't want to have it like them anymore reveals
to the
Guardian
.
Keeping such turtles is not prohibited in the United Kingdom.
However, veterinarians advise against getting an alligator snapping turtle for your home.
The animals have very special needs - and they can also be dangerous.
However, proven pets such as dogs can also be dangerous.
After an American Bully XL bit its owner to death at the end of January, animal rights activists are calling for a complete ban on breeding.