Most people would be too shy to sunbathe down by the river at this time of year but one Waikato resident is coming out of their shell.
Landscape architect Dave Mansergh was taking an afternoon stroll last week when he saw the turtle sunbathing on a log in the river, between Memorial Park and Wellington St beach, while its mate had a swim.
Hamilton Zoo bird, reptile and amphibian keeper Kara Goddard said the red-eared sliders were popular pets but people often dumped them in waterways when they outgrew their tanks.
”Lots of people buy cute baby turtles and put them in a tank, but they grow,” she said.
Mr Mansergh described the turtles he saw as ”about the size of an A4-piece of paper”, which Ms Goddard said was as big as they got.
And don’t rule out the possibility of a mini turtle boom.
”People think it’s too cold for them to breed but if you had a mild winter there’s every possibility they could,” she said.
The turtles, which are native to Mississippi, feed on juvenile fish and bugs and can live to be 30 to 40 years old.
Ms Goddard said the spotting was a good chance to press home the message of animal ownership.
”A turtle is for life not until you get bored of it,” she said.