Discovered: Rogue guinea pigs

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

ISLAND LIFE: a guinea pig on the loose in Blenheim's Pollard Park.

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England has its rumoured Beast of Bodmin Moor, and New York may have alligators living in the sewers.

All stuff of legend, but in Blenheim there is now irrefutable proof that there are guinea pigs living on the tiny island in Pollard Park.

Marlborough Express photographer Scott "Big Game Shooter" Hammond was able to obtain photographic evidence of the animals yesterday.

He reported the rodents appeared to be fat and happy among the flocks of ducks, and even a rat on the island.

The guinea pigs have apparently been providing entertainment for children over the last few weeks.

SPCA Marlborough centre manager Carol Schofield said the animals were first reported about a month ago, and she initially thought someone may have mistaken them for a rat.

However, she had confirmed there were four individuals guinea pigs living on the island.

Someone must have put them there because the animals could not swim, she said.

They would have survived through winter, as they normally live outdoors. They were not doing any harm, and they were protected from predators by the water, she said.

But their stay on the island will not last forever as the Marlborough District Council is reportedly not keen for them to remain at large.

Reserves and amenities officer Robert Hutchinson said staff often had to deal with abandoned cats and dogs, but this was the first time dealing with abandoned guinea pigs.

The council did not have a policy on guinea pigs, but as they were not part of the natural river environment it was likely they would be removed. It was highly likely the expedition to capture the pigs would take place after the school holidays.

The SPCA had provided a cage and a net for park staff to catch the animals and once caught they will be rehomed.

Mrs Schofield said abandoning animals in such a way was not the best approach to get rid of unwanted pets, and leaving them on the island was actually a breach of the Animal Welfare Act.