A dog walker has described the “horrible”  moment he found a dead tortoise in Whippendell Wood.

The man in his 30s was walking in the woodland near Watford at around 8am today (April 8) when he spotted the animal, estimated it to be 80 to 90 centimetres long, lying just off Rousebarn Lane.

“We were just going a bit off the track because we’ve got the dog with us when we saw a large tortoise lying on the verge,” he said. “It looks like it has been dumped.

Watford Observer: The dog walker said: It looks like it has been dumped.The dog walker said: It looks like it has been dumped. (Image: Contribution)

“You don’t expect to see a tortoise in Whippendell Woods, and with the size of it you wouldn’t even expect to see one in the UK.”

He added: “It was horrible. They usually live to a hundred years old or maybe more.

Watford Observer: The man who found it estimated it to be 80 to 90 centimetres long.The man who found it estimated it to be 80 to 90 centimetres long. (Image: Contribution)

“It was literally just over the bank so it does seem that someone might have just chucked it over.”

He said that there was also a carpet dumped next to it, which may be connected and has reported it Three Rivers District Council. 

Although tortoises are not considered to be endangered, they are a protected species and owners must apply for a permit to keep them in the UK.

Update: Police have confirmed an autopsy will be carried out.

Sergeant Alex Winning, of Hertfordshire Police’s Rural Operational Support Team, confirmed it will be sent to the Royal Veterinary College on April 11 where an autopsy will be carried out to determine its cause of death.