Tiny terrapins upset wildlife people

TINY terrapins found in the Regents Canal are upsetting wildlife people, as it is realised that the are breeding, and when grown could decimate fish and frogs living in the waterway and eat duckings.

The problem is they are not random creatures tipped into the canal by people who do not want them any more, but actually hatched ones that are breeding, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Humid conditions

The warm weather has been blamed for the breeding, and the resulting humid conditions that are suitable to the creatures.

Young terrapins have been seen by the wildlife people who believe that they could cause a huge threat to native wildlife in the water, and they want Canal & River Trust to do something about them.

Though they do not normally breed in our cold waters, the Regents Canal in London had been particularly warm this summer, which is causing the terrapins to multiply.

Popular

Terrapins are popular with children, being so small and needing little attention, but as they grow eventually end up in the nearest water—in London, the Regents Canal. The EU banned the importation of terrapins to its member states due to worries of the impact they could have on indigenous species when released.

They are predators, eating fish, frogs and the like. Adults that have been released are often seen on the waterways, usually basking in the sun.