A worrying development is that two more giant tortoises have been found dead in a woodland area close to Exeter. Devon and Cornwall Police are still baffled as they investigate these animals’ deaths in greater detail.
This discovery follows other related instances in the area. On Monday, January 8, two tortoise carcasses were discovered in Ashclyst Forest. Five more were discovered on Friday, January 12. There are now nine dead tortoises in the region as a result of the most recent discoveries.
In an effort to solve the enigma surrounding these fatalities, post-mortem investigations will soon be conducted by the authorities. Devon and Cornwall Police are working in tandem with the RSPCA and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to conduct a thorough investigation.
A fifty-year-old Exeter resident willingly went to a police interview to discuss possible violations of the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. But after the interview, investigations are still running strong, meaning that more leads are being followed up on.
Inspector Mark Arthurs thanked the public for their support and underlined the continued cooperation with experts in order to find the truth. “Our investigations are ongoing,” he said, expressing the determination of the authorities to crack this puzzling case.
There are still unanswered concerns about the welfare and safety of the local fauna, which has the population on edge. As this story progresses and officials put forth great effort to shed light on this uncomfortable scenario, stay tuned.