What animal was spotted roaming in Cornwall, UK?

A raccoon, a North American mammal, was spotted roaming freely in a resident's garden in the Gwennap area of Cornwall.

Where was the flamingo from Paradise Park in Cornwall found?

The four-month-old flamingo named Frankie was discovered living in Tréflez, Brittany, France, after escaping from the wildlife park in St Ives, Cornwall.

Why is it difficult to bring the flamingo back to the UK?

The director of Paradise Park said the logistics of bringing Frankie the flamingo back to the UK would be impractical, as it would require complex quarantine procedures in both France and the UK.

Home / Environment / Raccoon Roams Cornwall as Flamingo Flees to France

Raccoon Roams Cornwall as Flamingo Flees to France

14 Nov

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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

Raccoon Roams Cornwall as Flamingo Flees to France

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.