A dozen Koi carp, worth up to £500 each, have been dumped in the lake in Bourne Hall.
The Japanese ornamental fish, which are between 8ins and 2ft long, were spotted by contractors working at Bourne Hall on Monday.
Although six Koi carp were already living in the pond, rangers working for Epsom and Ewell Borough Council drafted in two independent Koi experts to look at the fish and assess their welfare.
A council spokesman said: "They are quite heavy eaters so we were concerned about them living in the pond.
"But the experts have advised us to leave them there for the time being, because they don't like to be moved about and now need to acclimatise."
The fish are believed to have been dumped by a resident whose pond is now too small for the fish.
July 12, 2002 15:30
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