Police will send a tortoise found dead in Whippendell Wood to specialists in London to investigate how it died.

Sergeant Alex Winning, of Hertfordshire Police’s Rural Operational Support Team, confirmed it will be sent to the Royal Veterinary College tomorrow, where an autopsy will be carried out.

Officers collected the animal’s body from the woodland just off Rousebarn Lane on Monday after they were alerted to it by a dog walker.

Watford Observer: Officers retrieved the animal's body on Monday after they were alerted to it by a dog walker.Officers retrieved the animal's body on Monday after they were alerted to it by a dog walker. (Image: Contribution)Sergeant Winning said: “We need to establish the cause of death before we start an investigation, which is a lot less straightforward than with people.”

Watford Observer: Sergeant Alex Winning said finding out the cause of death for animals can be a lot less straightforward than with people.Sergeant Alex Winning said finding out the cause of death for animals can be a lot less straightforward than with people. (Image: Hertfordshire Police)The rural policing team were not able to locate the animal’s microchip, which all tortoises must have by law in the UK as well as the right certification.

If it is found to not have a microchip, police will examine whether it was brought into the country illegally. 

Watford Observer: Police suspect it may be an African Spurred Tortoise, which is considered endangered.Police suspect it may be an African Spurred Tortoise, which is considered endangered. (Image: Contribution)If the owner can be identified, they may be charged for animal welfare offences depending on the cause of death, or for fly-tipping if it died of natural causes.

The species has not yet been confirmed, but police suspect it may be an African Spurred Tortoise, which is the largest mainland tortoise and considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.