Tortoise sparks police operation while crossing road in Germany

Reptile 'ignored other road users, blocked the road and did not let himself be unnecessarily rushed, consistently disregarding all traffic rules'

A tortoise, believed to be about 70 years old, sparked a police operation after trying to cross the road at a busy junction in the Rodenkirchen district of Cologne on 3 June 2019. (Cologne police)

A tortoise sparked a police operation in Germany after causing mayhem while trying to cross a busy road.

Motorists were forced to emergency brake to avoid hitting the creature, thought to be about 70 years old, as it walked into the middle of a busy junction in the Rodenkirchen district of Cologne.

Police, who were called to the scene at about 2.30pm on Monday, said the reptile “ignored other road users, blocked the road and did not let himself be unnecessarily rushed, consistently disregarding all traffic rules”.

Officers took the “sprightly senior” into custody temporarily before he was transferred to an animal shelter.

It is believed the male tortoise was either abandoned or had managed to escape from an enclosure after waking from hibernation.

According to the police, the tortoise was in good health apart from a damaged shell and claws which were too long.