FROM runaway rheas to a swan who fell in love with a helicopter, Jersey has had a plentiful supply of heartwarming – and at times bizarre – animal stories over the years.
And last week a hibernating hornet did its best to keep the Island’s non-human population in the news, when it found itself at the centre of a 999 call.
The insect gave an elderly woman the fright of her life when it emerged from its chosen location to see out the winter (her trousers) – so much so that she called the police.
She then trapped the intruder under a yoghurt pot before a volunteer Asian-hornet hunter popped round and froze it solid with an insect spray.
Here’s a look back at other animals who have quite rightly occupied a few column inches in the JEP over the last decade.
1. A dangerous liaison
In 2013 a love-struck swan was grounded for his own safety – after falling in love with a helicopter at Jersey Airport.
Whooper – who lived at Les Mielles Golf and Country Club – was left all alone following the death of his long-term partner. But instead of finding comfort in the wings of a fellow bird, Whooper turned his attention to a mysterious foreigner – namely an EC155 Eurocopter.
The besotted bird would fly up to the airfield after hearing the aircraft arrive before following it down the runway, apparently without fear of rejection or suffering a close encounter with the chopper’s rotor blades.
A Jersey Airport spokesman confirmed that the bird had enjoyed an ‘amorous adventure’ with the helicopter and had previously ‘flirted’ with other aircraft.
Fearing that it would all prove to be a fatal attraction, the authorities clipped Whooper’s wings and the relationship quickly came to an end.
Speaking at the time, conservation biologist Dr Glyn Young said swans ‘can occasionally do some ‘very weird things’.
2. The Great Escape
Geoff, a south-east Asian shortclawed otter, made a daring escape from Jersey Zoo in late 2015 and eventually made his way to the German reservoir in St Catherine’s Woods, where he was captured on camera seemingly having the time of his life.
But his otter romp missed him and Durrell staff hatched a plan to catch him using his favourite food – de-shelled mussels. His hi-jinks were brought to an end when he was captured after a month on the loose.
3. A wild west hold up
A motorist was left stranded in her car in 2014 after being confronted by a feisty 14-stone pig called Gert.
The hog staged the impromptu highway hold-up after escaping from his field in St Ouen and flatly refusing to let the driver down a lane it had seemingly decided to police. Rebecca Edwards told how she was forced to slowly back her bright orange car down the road as Gert followed while munching on the bumper. ‘Perhaps it thought my car was a giant carrot,’ she said.
4. Rodney Trotter
Five years later, the east of the Island had its own pig problems when a hog, which would become known as Rodney, was spotted wandering in and out of gardens in St Saviour and Trinity. It was later spotted on St Paul’s football pitch, and was captured a short time later after apparently failing to agree terms with the club. Rodney was rehomed but sadly passed away a short time later.
5. Runaway rhea
It had everything – an exotic stranger, mysterious sightings and a gripping final chase scene.
In 2011, Islanders were asked to keep their eyes peeled for a 6ft tall leggy bird who was turning heads in the northern parishes. But the mystery individual was not quite as glamorous as ‘she’ might have sounded, as the slender pins and cheeky smile actually belonged to a rhea – an ostrich-type bird which had bolted from its home in St John.
Despite numerous reported sightings the feathered fugitive evaded capture for more than three weeks until it was finally spotted stretching its very long legs in shrubs above La Saline quarry on the north coast.
But as his owner closed in, the bird made one last dash for freedom and ended up plunging 50ft down a cliff and running into the sea.
It was eventually wrestled out of the water, wrapped up in a towel, taken home and reunited with its rhea companions.
In the following years, the JEP found itself reporting on more escaped rheas, and, amazingly, none were called Chris.
6. The celebrity turtle
A turtle got a rock-star send off in 2016 when he was flown out of the Island on a private jet owned by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson.
The reptile – named Terri – captured the hearts of Islanders after he was washed up seriously ill on the beach at Grève d’Azette.
And after an online appeal raised more than £10,000 and plans were set in motion to have him flown back to warmer waters, Terri’s plight took an unexpected twist when it emerged that the plane had been provided by Aeris Aviation, which is owned by the heavy metal rocker.
7. Ace publicity for Roger Federer the goldfish
Mont Nicolle school’s goldfish Roger – named after tennis legend Roger Federer – made the headlines in 2014 after going under the knife in a pioneering operation to remove a tumour.
And not only did the story make national headlines – it also attracted the attention of the sports star himself, who tweeted about his fishy namesake’s surgery.
8. The fugitive sausage dog
And finally, almost a decade ago, Rosie the sausage dog made national headlines after escaping from her home in Gorey and causing general mayhem in the village.
The wire-haired dachshund was at the centre of a three-hour dog hunt which came to an end when she boarded the Number 1 bus to St Helier – and forced passengers off the vehicle.
The article later topped the list of ‘stories which rocked the world’ on satirical website, The Poke.
It beat other heavyweight news items, including a story from Folkestone about an out-of-date pasty being sold to a young mother and a tale from Exeter about some seagulls turning off someone’s television.
