Terrapins.
A Dublin man was surprised to find a ‘shoebox-sized turtle’ at the end of his fishing rod while fishing in the Grand Canal. The ‘turtle’, turned out to be a terrapin, one of a number of them living in the Grand Canal in Dublin. Terrapins are a kind of turtle. They have scaly limbs and a rounded, hard shell on their backs. They can live on land and in fresh water.
According to the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), terrapins are being dumped in the canal by their owners once they start to get too big. Terrapins can grow to the size of a dinner plate. One particular terrapin has been living in Marlay Park in Dublin for more than two years.
Terrapins are rarely found during the winter months as cold weather and ice can cause them to freeze to death. If you find a terrapin or turtle you should contact the DSPCA and have the reptile removed to a local shelter.
