This Turtle Caught in England Is Terrible (and Aggressive)

Animals – you wouldn't want to meet her on the street. This turtle, named “Fluffy” (French for “fluffy”), is not really fluffy. Native to swamps and rivers in the southern United States, it was spotted in a lake in the north of England on Monday, February 5.

It's impossible to mistake: with its tank appearance, it's an alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys demminckii). It is the largest freshwater turtle in the world and can weigh up to 80 kg. A black shell with prominent points and a jaw so powerful it could tear off a human finger. Also, its head is too big to fit into its shell.

But their danger to our fingers isn't their most threatening aspect: alligator snapping turtles are considered invasive, meaning they're likely to multiply out of control to the detriment of their environment. This is due to their large appetite. By devouring everything they encounter, they pose a real danger to the ecosystem, and their species is classified as endangered. French law Since 1997… its possession is legal but not recommended in the UK, and in our country you can only buy or breed alligator snapping turtles if you hold a specific certificate.

These turtles were a specimen recognized by a woman who lived in Common Florida, and was taken to a veterinary clinic (which posted the photo above). After a painful experience, he may have been abandoned by his owners. According to experts, if the turtle had been in the lake, it would have swallowed everything and compromised the ecosystem. After the care given to him, he will be transferred to a special zoo.

Don't let his looks and behavior fool you. Despite the animals' aggressiveness, the species has been classified as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List since 1988 due to habitat destruction, illegal poaching and poaching for its meat.

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