Indian squirrel hitches ride on board ship, lands up in Scotland

A squirrel from India hitched a ride on a ship and has landed up thousands of kilometres from home in Scotland, travel-weary but healthy.

The stowaway squirrel travelled the seas on board the Deep Explorer for three weeks, before being caught by the crew three days before they docked in Aberdeen

The crew contacted Pest Solutions, who in turn called up The North East Wildlife & Animal Rescue Center, or NEW ARC, which sent two members to take care of the stressed rodent.


"Our knowledge of Indian Squirrels is hardly encyclopedic so we had used the time between the call and his arrival in quickly swotting up on the likely arrival. India has over 40 different species of squirrel ranging from ground squirrels to giant flying squirrels," NEW ARC posted on social media.


In the end, it turned out to be an Indian palm squirrel or three-striped palm squirrel, the most common kind seen in gardens across the country.

Members of the animal rescue charity are calling it Zippy, because they found him very fit and active and faster than a speeding bullet.

The Press and Journal reported that Zippy set off from the southern India coast early August on board the Deep Explorer - - which is a support vessel that helps divers work offshore - sailed through the Suez Canal in Egypt and reached Aberdeen crossing 7000 miles of ocean.

"Although stressed originally and having survived his 3 week ocean trip from India in reasonably good condition, Zippy has now settled down and is already eating well. The task of finding him a specialist, permanent home, has now begun," NEW ARC's post said.