A veterinarian on the Channel 5 show The Yorkshire Vet was astonished to discover that a large African tortoise named Bernie was carrying ten eggs during an X-ray examination.
Bernie, a resident of a local zoo, was brought to see Matt Exotic in an upcoming episode after staff noticed she had been acting unusually. The vet initially suspected something was amiss and ordered an X-ray to investigate.
Upon viewing the results, Matt exclaimed, "Wow! It's a lot of eggs. No wonder she's shuffling around like she needs to lay." He counted ten eggs, noting they were fully shelled and ready to be laid. However, because Bernie had not laid them, there were concerns about potential health risks.
Matt explained that if the eggs remained inside, they could cause infections. The worst-case scenario would require surgical removal, which would involve sawing into her shell—a complex and delicate procedure.
The episode airs on Tuesday, March 10, on Channel 5. The show, which follows veterinarians across Yorkshire, has been popular for 22 series.
