MELTON TIMES (UK) 02 June 05 Moorhen v Terrapin
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They say the most dangerous space in the world is between a mother and her child – and that was the case for a hapless terrapin in Melton's River Eye.
The amphibian was attacked by a moorhen protecting her chicks at the bank of the river near Waterfield Leisure Pools in Dalby Road.
Melton Times photographer Jim Harrison, who snapped the snapper, said: "The terrapin was swimming down the river when the moorhen suddenly came up and took a crack at it."
Jenny Harris, senior conservation officer at Leicestershire Wildlife Trust, said the moorhen's behaviour was surprising but not unexpected.
She said: "It's rare that a moorhen will attack a terrapin but they do make good mothers so they will protect their young.
"Terrapins are carnivores so it would have been a threat to the chicks, who are taught to flee underwater but in this case wouldn't be safe."
Mrs Harris said that terrapins are not native to the UK but are now in British waters following the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze of the early Nineties.
Moorhen v Terrapin