The two turtles were left in a water-filled basin outside Sainsbury’s, reports Miriam Balanescu

A Muswell Hill resident has discovered two abandoned turtles while out shopping with her mother last week.

Molly Napier-Doyle took to Facebook to share the unusual find, saying she had found the turtles on 29th August in a margarine tub filled with water abandoned outside Sainsbury’s, Fortis Green Road.

She added that the turtles seemed “stressed” and “malnourished”, saying: “I understand that reptiles aren’t cheap pets, and not for the faint of heart; but it takes something particularly selfish to throw them out like this instead of surrendering them to specialists.”

The turtles appeared to have been ditched by their previous owner, with Molly saying that a sticker reading ‘Free’ had been placed on the abandoned tub.

Molly has since taken the turtles in, naming them Melon and Donatella. Donatella has now been rehomed.

Molly said: “Both of them are doing very well and are growing little by little.

“Their favourite foods right now are worms, coriander and shrimps, and we estimate them to be between eight months to two years old.

“Melon enjoys wedging her butt against the filter to get some bubbles on his shell, and Donny is a sun worshipper.”

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