This wee tortoise was found dumped in a box on the bonnet of a van parked in Peckham, London.
The poor guy was left on the pest control van while the controller was on a job on 19 October.
Rescue officer Mat Hawkins was called out to collect the little critter, who’s thought to be a Horsfield tortoise.
He was taken to a specialist boarding centre for some badly needed care.
Mat said: ‘This cute little fellow was left inside a cardboard box and had been dumped on the bonnet of this van. Sadly he also hadn’t been looked after very well.
‘It looks as though he’s not had access to a suitable diet or lighting, or both, because his shell was under-developed and very soft.
‘Thankfully he’s now in safe and experienced hands with the team at South Essex Wildlife Hospital where he’s receiving care and treatment.’
Sadly, the RSPCA has seen a 24% increase in the number of abandoned animals being reported to its emergency line this year compared to last year, and exotic pets like this tortoise are unfortunately often the first to be given up by careless owners who didn’t appreciate their complex needs when they got them.
Mat said: ‘You need specialist equipment and knowledge to keep exotic pets such as tortoises, snakes and lizards, and it’s really important to do proper research before taking one on so that you understand what they need and how much they will cost to care for.
‘Sadly we’re really starting to see the impact the cost of living crisis is having on pet owners and we’re taking more animals into our care as their owners struggle to care for them.
‘It appears this little tortoise may well be a victim of owners who do not fully understand what they need to thrive and may not have been able to afford the costs – particularly with energy bills through the roof – to take care of him.
‘Anyone with information about where this little guy may have come from or who was responsible for abandoning him should contact our appeal line on 0300 123 8018.’
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