Lucky escape for guinea pig as 12 of his pals are killed by fox at East Park
A GUINEA pig is recovering in an animal hospital after a hungry fox broke into an east Hull guinea pig pen and killed his 12 pals.
The male guinea pig narrowly avoided death and escaped with a few bites and scratches.
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Volunteer Robert Lee with Lucky the guinea pig
The animal, which has been named Lucky by centre staff, is now in the hospital unit of the East Park Animal Education Centre.
Richard Brown, wildlife development officer at the centre in Holderness Road said: "Lucky is recovering in the hospital room. He was not far away from being the 13th casualty, but he is still alive with a few bites and scratches."
The killing spree took place in the early hours of the morning.
He said: "We may lose one animal now and then from a fox, but to lose 12 is unusual.
"We've got a big fence all the way around the centre to stop foxes and domestic cats from getting in.
"But the problem is there's a lot of foxes in the park and they want to feed their young ones.We'd just rather they didn't pinch our guinea pigs."
There are 25 of the animals left at the centre in total, but as 12 males were killed the majority are now female, meaning the centre's guinea pig breeding programme has been hit.
Mr Brown said the remaining pets were in a traumatised state.
He said: "The guinea pigs were very distressed.
"They have been chased around by a fox and we have had to catch them ourselves to bring them in, so they are still very nervous.
"We were looking around this morning and we couldn't see any of them and we found them huddled together on a patch of grass. They are sticking together."
The deaths have meant the centre has been forced to cancel its Guinea Pig Weekend, which was due to take place today and tomorrow.
Groups of pet-loving children had been booked in to learn more about guinea pigs – the centre's animal of the month for April.
Rangers were ready to show the youngsters how to care for the animals, by checking for illnesses and mites and cutting their tiny nails.
The children would also have been able stroke the guinea pigs in a handling session and do some colouring in the centre's activity room.
Mr Brown said parents reacted well to the last-minute cancellation. He said: "People have been very understanding."
16 Comments
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by Chinese DVD Gang, Warton Stleet Malket
Sunday, May 16 2010, 4:16PM
“I doubt is was a fox, probably one of the inbred feral east hull chavs who was hungry.”
by Sam, Facepalming.
Saturday, May 15 2010, 10:27PM
“"I wish someone would hunt Sam down, preferably with foxes - now thats a Government I would vote for!!"
Grow up for god sake.”
by Lilly, East Hull
Saturday, May 15 2010, 9:54PM
“I wish someone would hunt Sam down, preferably with foxes - now thats a Government I would vote for!!”
by Brian, askew av
Saturday, May 15 2010, 7:17PM
“The local park squirrels are laughing their nuts off about this story, especially as the missing guinea pigs will not have a chance to cash in their council pensions.”
by david, leafy subrb
Saturday, May 15 2010, 7:09PM
“At least they won't need to reintroduce animal cruelty to kill rats and rabbits...it is still legal to hunt those with dogs, good OLD BLIAR AND BROWN left us with something to do, they obviousley did not think hunting rats and rabbits was cruel. Correction expanded.”
by Sam, Hull
Saturday, May 15 2010, 6:29PM
“"Not to worry folks, the new government have in their manifesto to bill to reintroduce legalised animal cruelty."
Corrected for you.”
by Charles, Cott
Saturday, May 15 2010, 5:40PM
“If "Guinea pigs breed like rabbits" that may be the cause of their problems.”
by david, Cloud nine.
Saturday, May 15 2010, 4:54PM
“How does the HDM reporter know "lucky" was "pals" with the deceased? So is it Blundells corner where Dr Doolittle has been hiding all these years!
Apparently in an interview with the vixen concerned, perfect barbeque weather was to blame for the slaying, Mr and Mrs Reynard commented that warm summer evenings are just not the same without pig in a basket, guinea on a stick followed by a fizzy drink cocktail from a local bin. In another recent incident a fox was found to be hopping mad after stealing a wallaby. The same fox denied the slaying of a local goat, saying that he could never do anything that would hurt kids. He was found guilty and ordered to undertake 3 minutes community service at the Holderness hunt kennels, Etton. The fox mysteriously vanished upon arrival, although his nose was found pinned to a kennel wall.”
by Dimwit, Cloud nine
Saturday, May 15 2010, 4:39PM
“The guinea pig pictured called "Lucky" should make a full recovery, having come out of the skirmish with just a black eye.”
by Magoo, East Yorkshire
Saturday, May 15 2010, 3:47PM
“This fox sounds like a typical Hull ¿lovable rogue¿, nicking Guinea Pigs from the park to feed his kids. I bet you will find him in the Elephant & Castle every night, blowing his benefit money on booze & vixens.
Time to give this sly character an ASBO, or better still, be hounded around the park by a bunch of toffs on horseback.”