A tortoise who was missing for eight months has been found just 300 metres away in a nearby field. Fiona Sherriff, 58, was devastated when her beloved reptile Scuttle went missing from her enclosure in Cusgarne, Cornwall, in August last year. But earlier this month she was discovered by a neighbour in a nearby field - just 300 metres away.
Scuttle was found completely unharmed and she is now back in her enclosure with her fellow tortoise, Pickford. Ms Sherriff, who runs the boutique B&B Cusgarne Manor, said: 'Honestly I am just so relieved she is back, I was so sad something had happened to her. There was no sign of escape from the enclosure - Scuttle is very energetic and we think she had even climbed a Cornish hedge!'
Scuttle and Pickford have been in Ms Sherriff's family since her and her sister were children in the 1970s. Despite not knowing their exact age, Ms Sherriff believes they are at least 70 years old - possibly older. She said: 'They were fully grown tortoises when we had them during the 70s - so they are at least 70, maybe even 80. They belonged to my mum, Pauline, and when she passed away last year I inherited them. My mum loved the tortoises so much and so it was a big responsibility to have them - so I was scared to death of something happening them.'
When Scuttle went missing last year, Ms Sherriff searched far and wide trying to find her. She said: 'I had named her when I was a child because she scuttled along fast - but it really was very sad when she went missing.' The owner appealed for help on local Facebook groups - and was amazed when her neighbour found Scuttle in a little burrow in her neighbouring field. She said: 'She really was not that far really, probably only around 300 metres. I was astonished she hadn't gone miles - they can go quite far!'
Ms Sherriff added: 'We live in the countryside and there are so many predators from badgers to foxes and rats, so she must have buried herself to keep safe. It was so wet over the winter too, she could have drowned if she was in the wrong place. They dig themselves into the ground, so she must have found herself a safe spot to hibernate - it's amazing.' Scuttle is now safely back in her enclosure with fellow tortoise Pickford - being spoiled with lettuce and dandelions. Ms Sherriff wants to build another enclosure for her tortoises so her guests can see them too.
