A group of terrapins, which are indigenous to south and central America and do not live in the wild in the UK, have been dumped in the water.
Council officers believe members of the public have bought the creatures as pets, but once the novelty wears off and they realise terrapins can live for 40 years, they abandon them in local ponds and streams — without realising the harm the terrapin will cause to the local wildlife.
Spokesperson for Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Elkin, said, 'It is totally unacceptable to release any alien species into an unnatural environment and can only damage what nature has provided. I would urge residents with any type of unwanted pets to seek professional advice on re-housing them.'
Terrapins feed on anything they can get into their mouths. They will eat any animal they can find, alive or dead, but small fish, tadpole, shrimps and aquatic insects are its main food source.
As they grow larger, they become a danger to ducklings and small birds.
Red-eared sliders – the most popular type of pet – can grow up to 30cm in diameter and live up to 40 years.
The common 'snapping terrapin' can live up to 120 years and has jaws which can eventually crush bone.
There are at least eight terrapins in Hampden Park at the moment which are being removed, with the help of a terrapin trap loaned by Paul Pendlebury.
The creatures will be trapped safely as they bask, and re-housed to collectors who know how to care for them.
If you have a terrapin or similar animal that you wish to re-home, please call the EBC Ranger on 415464 for advice.
Due to the dangers they pose to natural wildlife, it is a criminal offence to relocate them into another stretch of open water.