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Raccoon Roams Cornwall as Flamingo Flees to France
14 Nov
Summary
- Raccoon spotted roaming in Gwennap area of Cornwall
- Flamingo that escaped from wildlife park in St Ives found living in France
- Logistics of returning flamingo to UK deemed impractical
On November 14, 2025, Cornwall residents were surprised by the latest animal escapade in the region. Just weeks after a flamingo from a local wildlife park was found living in France, a raccoon was spotted roaming freely in a resident's garden in the Gwennap area.
The RSPCA Cornwall shared a video of the North American mammal on the loose, urging locals to be on the lookout. All nearby zoos confirmed their raccoons were secure, suggesting the animal may have been someone's pet. After being located in a nearby greenhouse, the RSPCA and a vet were called to the scene.
This incident comes on the heels of another exotic animal adventure in Cornwall. Earlier this month, a four-month-old flamingo named Frankie escaped from Paradise Park in St Ives and was discovered living in Tréflez, Brittany, France. Despite efforts to locate the bird, the director of the park said the logistics of bringing Frankie back would be impractical, as it would require complex quarantine procedures in both countries.
While the raccoon was eventually contained, the flamingo's journey to France has left its keepers "devastated." However, they have resigned to the fact that Frankie may choose to return on her own, as the challenges of repatriating her are simply too great.
