Turtle abandoned at McDonalds nicknamed Ronald

The terrapin and Ronald the mock turtle in the ice cream box they were found in Credit: RSPCA

RSPCA officers are appealing for help to find a man who left a box containing a terrapin and a turtle, both in bad health, at a branch of McDonalds in Brighton.

The man was seen carrying a box into the restaurant in Brighton Marina Leisure Centre at about 1pm on Wednesday 30th November. He left the two-litre ice cream box on a table and then walked out. The animals were inside the container, along with a wet t-shirt for bedding and a piece of lettuce for food.

The yellow-bellied terrapin was so ill that it was put down following advice from a vet, to stop it suffering anymore.

The musk turtle, nicknamed Ronald because of where he was found, is being treated by a vet. The RSCA said they will try to find a specialist home for him when he is well enough to be moved elsewhere.