A tortoise missing for eight months is found… 300 yards away

A turtle that had been missing for eight months was found in a nearby field, just over 300 meters away.

Fiona Sherriff, 58, was devastated when her beloved reptile Scuttle went missing from his enclosure in Cusgarne, Cornwall, in August last year.

But it was discovered by a neighbor in a nearby field earlier this month – just 328 meters away.

Scuttle was found completely unharmed and has now returned to his enclosure with his turtle friend Pickford.

Miss Sherriff, who runs B&B Cusgarne Manor boutique, said: ‘I’m honestly so relieved he’s back, I’m so sorry anything happened to him.

‘There was no sign of escaping the area – Scuttle is very energetic and we think he even climbed a Cornish fence!’

Scuttle and Pickford have been in Ms Sherriff’s family since she and her sister were children in the 1970s.

Although Ms. Sherriff does not know their exact ages, she believes they are at least 70 years old, possibly older.

Scuttle (right) and Pickford enjoy cucumber slices together

He said: ‘They were fully grown turtles when we got them in the 70s; So they are at least 70 years old, maybe even 80 years old.

‘They belonged to my mother Pauline and she bequeathed them to me when she passed away last year.

‘My mother loved turtles so having them was a big responsibility. That’s why I was scared to death of something happening to them.’

When Scuttle went missing last year, Ms. Sherriff searched everywhere to find him.

He said: ‘When I was a kid I named him because he ran fast, but I was really upset when he got lost.’

The owner asked local Facebook groups for help and his neighbor was stunned to find Scuttle in a small nest in his neighbour’s field.

He said: ‘It wasn’t really that far, probably only around 300 metres.

‘I’m surprised it hasn’t gone for miles; They can go pretty far!

Ms Sherriff believes Scuttle may be at least 70 years old after his mother bought the turtles when he and his sister were children in the 1970s

‘We live in the countryside and there are lots of predators, from badgers to foxes to mice, so he must have buried himself to be safe.

‘And in the winter it was so wet that if he had been in the wrong place he could have drowned.

‘They dig themselves into the ground, so they must have found a safe place to hibernate – it’s amazing.’

Scuttle is now safely back in his enclosure with Pickford the tortoise, pampered with lettuce and dandelions.

Ms. Sherriff wants to build another enclosure for her turtles so her guests can see them, too.