A turtle takes a splash at Cornwall Park aviary, Hastings. Photo / NZME
A turtle takes a splash at Cornwall Park aviary, Hastings. Photo / NZME
A number of turtles are missing from Cornwall Park aviary in Hastings, presumed stolen, after the wire around their enclosure was tampered with.
A police spokesperson said they had received a burglary report that suggested they had been stolen sometime between midnight Friday and 6am Saturday.
Police are investigating thereport, the spokesperson said.
The 15 turtles at the aviary are red-eared slider turtles, which are classified as a pest and can cause harm to native ecosystems if released into the wild.
In 2023, the Cornwall Park aviary was reopened after an upgrade, with a new enclosure and “beach” provided to the turtles for a more natural egg-laying area.
