“Big adventure” for Devon tortoise almost ends in Norfolk pulping

A tortoise which journeyed almost 300 miles in the back of a lorry was moments away from death before recycling plant workers saved it.

Published: June 6, 2014 at 9:12 am

A tortoise which journeyed almost 300 miles in the back of a lorry was moments away from death before recycling plant workers saved it.

The tortoise, which was hibernating in paper sent for recycling, was found just as it was about to be pulped at a plant in Norfolk.

The paper was transported to King's Lynn from Silverton in Devon, a 270 mile (435km) trip.

The race is now on to find the owner of the tortoise, which mid-Devon Council described as "intrepid".

A spokesman for mid-Devon Council said, "It would appear the tortoise must have been hibernating in a black box amongst paper put out for recycling.”

It is though that the animal is likely to have remained amongst the paper for two days before being dropped into the lorry from a height of 20ft (6m).

"Following its big adventure, we are happy to say that the tortoise is alive and very well, and currently being cared for by one of the mill workers in King's Lynn," the spokesman added.

"We would really like to be able to complete the journey of this intrepid tortoise - which we think is a 'she' - by returning it to its owner."

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