THE first images of a giant rodent on the loose in the Island have emerged, with the government calling on the public to report any further sightings.
The photos of the coypu – which looks like a large rat and is a non-native, invasive species – were taken using a mobile phone by Ewan Pilley earlier this week on Rue des Bouillons, in Trinity, at 11.30pm.
Other suspected sightings have been reported in Rozel and St Saviour this week.
Isabelle Duggan, who works as an invasive-species officer for the government, said: ‘We are asking people – if they can get a photo – to not get too close.’
Coypus, which can be found in France, have been spotted in the Island before.
However, up until this point they have only been found dead on the Island’s shores.
Environmentalist Bob Tompkins, who also writes the JEP’s nature column, previously said: ‘Normally they drown after being washed around by the tide.’
The government’s Natural Environment team have asked Islanders not to approach the animal, but to report sightings on by calling 441674. To report a sighting outside of office hours, call 441617.
