11 Apr Hadleigh Farm Issue Appeal For Missing Tortoise
The Salvation Army’s Hadleigh Farm Rare Breed Centre is appealing to the local community to help in the search for Tommy the tortoise. The team believe he was stolen yesterday afternoon during opening hours.
Emma Sayer, Rare Breed Centre Manager, said: “Tommy was last seen yesterday morning during a birthday party at the centre. Diane, one of the team here, noticed he was missing at the end of the day.
“As tortoises are slow animals we do believe he has been stolen. Unfortunately this isn’t the first time this has happened – three years ago Sunbeam, one of our Guinea pigs, was taken. We never saw her again.
“Tommy is a Hermann tortoise, very friendly. He’s nine years old, about eight inches long and has a microchip to help identify him.
“We’d be really grateful if the local community can help us in our search – we just want Tommy returned home safely.”
Anyone with information should contact Essex Police, using the non-emergency phone number of 101
Tommy is one of three tortoises at Hadleigh Farm Rare Breed Centre, along with Tammy and Pebbles, two females.
Hadleigh Farm Rare Breed Centre reopened to the public on 25 March. The centre combines The Salvation Army’s commitment to environmental conservation with family fun and last year was recognised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) as a Conservation Farm Park.
