Police ask for public's help after four giant tortoises are stolen

Dorset police have appealed to the public for information to help locate the animals.

The theft occurred overnight at Kingston Maurward College, near Dorchester.

Three females and one male were taken from a shed on the grounds of the establishment.

The four Sulcata tortoises are 11-year-olds Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, and 24-year-old Jeffery.

It is understood that the thieves used wheelbarrows to transport the animals from their home to a waiting vehicle.

It is believed that their capturers entered the grounds on foot from the rear entrance to the college, they then fled the scene by car.

The stolen animals are one of the largest breeds of tortoise on the planet and are around 40cm to 50cm long and 30cm wide.

They are all micro-chipped.

The university reports that "one of these tortoises is also poorly and needs daily medication", so they desperately need to be reunited.

Pc Chris Stephens, who is investigating the case, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious overnight in the area to please come forward.

“If you have any information that could assist with the investigation or have seen tortoises for sale in suspicious circumstances, please contact Dorset Police urgently.

“We are desperate to reunite them with the college to ensure they are appropriately cared for.”

According to Reptiles Magazine, Sulcata tortoises haven’t really been raised from birth for very long, therefore it's hard to determine their lifespan in captivity. 

The publication said if they're raised on a lean, high-fiber diet with low-stress environments, they can live longer.

Current indications report that Sulcata tortoises can live more than 70 years.