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It's
not what you'd expect to find at a bus stop in Gloucestershire,
but that's exactly where this prickly creature turned up.
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The
spiky beast was first sighted at the end of December - police say
a number of people had reported seeing a strange animal wandering
round the district over the last couple of weeks.
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| Caroline
Gould |
But
it eluded capture until the 8th of January when RSPCA officials
retrieved it from the woods.
It's
now at the Vale Wildlife Rescue Centre near Tewkesbury.
Staff
say they hope that either the original owner will come forwards,
or a new one will be found.
Manager
Caroline Gould said: "It's the first one we've ever had found
in the wild - they come from Africa but they are kept in wildlife
parks and zoos, and probably some people have got them as exotic
pets.
"They
eat roots, shoots, fruit and berries - I would think he was finding
enough food as he looks in quite good condition.
"We're
hoping that his owner will come forward but I'm surprised that we
haven't heard that someone's lost one already, so maybe it's someone
who's released him into the wild because they didn't have a licence.
"If
we can't find the owner then we'll have to find someone else who
keeps them."
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you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
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The
Forest of Dean is attracting ever more exotic wildlife. First wild
boar, then camels, and now a porcupine has now turned up near Bream!
