Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Investigation after lizards dumped in the Dales

An investigation has been launched after three lizards were found dumped in freezing temperatures at a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales. Two of the reptiles were found dead by an RSPCA inspector, and a third is being cared for by the charity after being recovered ‘just in time’. The RSPCA has slammed the ‘totally abhorrent’ actions of the people responsible, and is appealing for witnesses to come forward.



RSPCA Inspector Chris Towler attended a rural spot at Burton-in-Lonsdale, North Yorkshire, after a report from a member of the public. Behind a wall he found a broken up vivarium with a dead bosc monitor lying underneath broken glass, where the doors of the tank had smashed. The lizard was around two-and-a-half foot long. Four days later Mr Towler found a second dumped vivarium, around a tenth of a mile north of the first one, behind two rocks.





It contained two bearded dragons, one measuring around 12-14 inches, and the other 8-10 inches. “The larger one was dead, and the smaller one was just barely alive,” Mr Towler said. “At first I thought it was dead, but I placed it on the dashboard in the sun, and it opened its eyes.” Mr Towler said the tank with the bearded dragons was found complete with heating bulbs, wood chippings and food bowls with mealworms left in them.



“This suggests to me that prior to being left they were well cared for - something has occurred and someone decided to get rid of them in this manner.” He added that they were looking into the possibility that the lizards had been stolen. “We have had unwanted lizards found in dustbins but to have them left with all the equipment, is very unusual. It would have taken a couple of people at least to dump tanks that size.” Any witnesses are asked to contact the RSPCA.

6 comments:

Williamrocket said...

Inches feets yards miles chains leagues fathoms pounds ounces farthings quids.
It's 2015, not 1643.
When will Britain go metric ?????
I understand the Untied States of Dumb not going, but the UK ?

arbroath said...

Heh heh, the UK has never fully embraced metrication.

Whilst it's illegal to sell fruit and vegetables in imperial units and petrol is sold in litres, road signs and car speedometers are still in mph.

I've always felt cheated by metrication. Back in 1971 before the currency was decimalised, every day I would have a sixpenny piece to buy sweets on the way home from school. I used to buy loose Sports Mixtures, which were a halfpenny each - so I'd get twelve.

Then six old pence became 2½ new pence and the Sports Mixtures were repriced at two for 1/2 a new pence - so I only got ten for the same small piece of silver.

To this day I hold a grudge.

Ratz said...

I grew up after currency was metric but before food etc. was. I'm left using thinking in metric for precise measurement (save for electronics where the pin pitch is often still in imperial) and in inches and miles for larger scale engineering things.

Gareth said...

What does the system of measurements matter as long as the people using it understand?

Barbwire said...

Our currency is the only thing that's metric. I think we cling to the English system just so kids will have to suffer through math classes learning fractions, conversions, etc.

Ratz said...

This conversation reminds me of TheOatmeal on how to teach metric to Americans: http://theoatmeal.com/pl/senior_year/science