A dog walker found the tub in a bag early on Saturday morning.
A suspected human placenta was found in an ice cream tub on a footpath behind Tooting Bec Athletics Track early on Saturday morning.
A dog walker found the tub in a bag and called police at 6:55am. They believe the tub was partially buried, but probably unearthed by an animal.
Medical staff suggested that the organ is a two-week-old human placenta. Police are worried that a vulnerable new mother may be in need of urgent post-natal care.
Wandsworth Chief Inspector Nick Aldworth said: “I would like to emphasise that our primary concern at the moment is for the welfare of anybody who may have given birth without medical assistance and our focus is currently on welfare and not enforcement.”
A search with dogs returned no evidence of anything else buried, information as to why the organ was discarded or to whom it belongs.
The body part has been sent for tests and medical analysts are due to report their findings later today.
Chief Inspector Aldworth said police are appealing to the person who buried the organ and to the general public to contact them with any information.
The organ was found in almost the same place as a baby’s body parts were found in September 2012.
Anyone who can assist police is asked to call 101.
Photo courtesy of Noel Foster, with thanks.
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