Appeal after theft of Boris the tortoise
CITY FARM FAVOURITE STOLEN AS ‘PARTNER’ GRIEVES
THERE’S a tortoise in Newcastle who misses her best friend after he was snatched from their home at an inner city community farm.
Boris the red-toed tortoise was reportedly stolen from Ouseburn Farm on Monday, and the charity is desperate to find out where he is.
Boris is a favourite with visitors to the farm, which runs projects for school children, students and disabled people in Newcastle.
“People are devastated, because they come in just to see the tortoises. They get so attached to certain animals,” said manager Dorothy Ellis
But it’s not just visitors who want to see Boris returned to Ouseburn. His close partner Doris is now the only tortoise left at Ouseburn Farm.
Dorothy said tortoises can become quite attached to each other, and Doris and Boris are very much a pair.
Dorothy told The Chronicle: “She looks very lonely without him.”
Boris is not the first tortoise to be stolen from Ouseburn. In August, Tomilina was taken from the farm. Eventually, she was sold to a family, who had no idea their pet was stolen. When the family realised, they immediately tried to return Tomilina.
Dorothy said: “She was sold to a young boy whose lifelong ambition was to have a tortoise. We couldn’t take him away from her, so we decided to let him have her. But we can’t do that with every single tortoise.” Tomilina was also stolen in 2014 before being returned.
The farm has now had to close off some access points so they can keep a closer eye on their animals. Previously, visitors could walk through various gates to access the farm, But these are now shut, while the small animals area will be closed when staff are not there to keep an eye on the attractions.
Now, the farm’s only entrance is through the main doors at the front of the building. Dorothy says the last thing staff and volunteers want to do is to restrict access to their open farm, but they have to consider security.
She said: “We do not want to lock every thing away. We want visitors to get hold of our animals, touch and interact with them. We do not want them behind glass all of the time. But we’re going to have to do something like that because people are spoiling it.”
Ouseburn Farm has reported the theft to police, and urge anyone who knows where Boris could be, or who is offered a tortoise, to get in touch.”
The farm is looking for volunteers who would be interested in working there so more of it can remain open to visitors. Call 0191 232 3698 or email admin@ouseburnfarm.org.uk