‘Incredibly lucky’ tortoise saved at Guernsey recycling centre

A charity is appealing to find the owner of an “incredibly lucky” tortoise which was found injured at a recycling centre, having been unknowingly put through some of its processes and equipment.

The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said the reptile was found amongst blue bag recycling at Mayside Recycling on Wednesday.

The charity said a worker at the depot found the tortoise which is thought to have made its way on to a collection lorry before being put through a spiked barrel drum, a compactor and being dropped 15ft (4.6m).

Charity manager Steve Byrne said: “We have seen some amazing rescue stories at the GSPCA but this really is incredible.”

He added the animal, now called Mayside, was “incredibly lucky to have survived his ordeal”.

The charity said the tortoise had small superficial wounds to its legs and tail, but no damage to his shell and was taken to a nearby vets for treatment.

Mayside “appeared, miraculously, to be in good condition”, the charity said, but would continue a course of pain medication for five days.

Mayside Recycling worker Andy Norman, who found the animal, said it was “amazing how the tortoise survived”.

He added: “We can’t believe how the tortoise managed to firstly get into the recycling and to have been through so many recycling processes and come out with just a few minor injuries – we really can’t put into words how lucky he is.

“We really hope he escaped and made his own way into the recycling and it wasn’t done intentionally.”

Mr Byrne said the tortoise was “likely owned by someone” and the charity has asked anybody with information to get in touch.