Angler is left shell-shocked after hauling in an unusual catch

David Wagstaff is more used to catching bream or pike at his usual firshing spot, and was stunned when he landed the reptile, which it is believed is a pet that has been released by its owner.

After landing the unusual catch, David got in touch with the National Turtle Sanctuary, which is based a the nearby Lincolnshire Wildlife Park.

They took in the male terrapin, which has been named Catch, and it will now spend the rest of its life in one of their brand new turtle pods, which were opened in May this year.

The 15 inch long terrapin – which is a type of turtle – is believed to be around 10 years old, and weighs 1.8kg.

Andy Ferguson, herpetologist at the sanctuary said: “Our Sanctuary is modelled on a turtle's natural habitat as closely as possible whilst giving them the absolute best water quality and food sources.

“Each Pod is designed to give each turtle maximum space, air, burying potential, basking space and self-temperature regulation.

“Having worked with several experts we truly believe that we provide the absolute best environment .Our ethos is to never overcrowd a Pod, never to rehome unless specifically discussed with the owner prior to handover and to allow each resident the full five freedoms of welfare in five star accommodation.

We were more than happy to offer David’s unexpected catch a home here.”

The sanctuary not only takes in rescued turtles such as David’s catch but also any pet turtles who have outgrown their enclosure or are proving too difficult to care for as they grow or their owner’s circumstances change.

It is believed that the one David caught may not be the only one an angler hauls in, as the sanctuary believes many turtle owners quite often place pets into rivers, lakes and ponds thinking this is the best option for them.

While many will not survive the harsh conditions, those who do see out their first winter will likely thrive, which is bad news for native native aquatic species and vegetation which both provide a great food source for these now wild creatures.