Mystery of giant tortoises deepens

THE riddle of the giant endangered tortoises has deepened after two more turned up dead.

- Paul Jeeves

It takes the number of the deaths being probed by police to nine.

An investigation was launched last month after the carcasses of several giant tortoises were found across the Mid Devon area.

Two bodies were found in the National Trust-owned Ashclyst Forest, near Exeter, on Monday, January 8 before a further five were discovered in the same area four days later.

Now Devon and Cornwall Police have recovered two more bodies in that neck of the woods as part of their inquiries in tandem with the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPCA.