I’ve previously featured the occasional shot of the local terrapins, but I think this is the first time I’ve devoted a complete entry to them. Terrapins are invasive species, normally discarded pets following various ‘turtle’ TV and move fads. They have no natural predators, but are themselves highly predatory and cause significant damage to native wildlife. Fortunately the weather in the UK is generally to cold to enable successful breeding, but they can live to 40, so the problem is a long-term one.
There are several terrapins in Falmer Pond (the council should remove them, but hasn’t over a number of years), and their presence may have something to do with the very poor duckling survival rate at Falmer. I think the ones at Falmer are yellow-bellied sliders, judging by the marking to the side of the head (but I am very ready to be corrected if a terrapin expert is lurking).
Anyway, here’s a sequence taken today of one of the terrapins approaching a rock…
With the likelihood of a mini turtle craze again (movies do this), there are likely to be more pets now, and more abandoned later. They should never, ever, be released into the wild in the UK. Local wildlife cannot compete with them. More useful information on the Terrapin Information UK website.
Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.
Darko
29 Aug 2015Yeah, one more stupidity involving humans and their pets. At least there are no lions or crocodiles around >:(
Words
29 Aug 2015You can never be to sure http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9142110.Reports_of_big_cat_sightings_across_Sussex/?ref=ar (not that I believe any of the reports) 😉
Darko
5 Sep 2015lol
I think Adele mentioned something similar couple of years ago – or maybe the same article 😀
Words
6 Sep 2015It’s a regular story in the UK. Sometimes a lion (ginger cat), sometimes a tiger (soft toy), and sometimes a panther (black cat)!
Darko
10 Sep 2015Hahahaha 😀