How 3-striped Indian Squirrel landed in Scotland after 3-week voyage

New Delhi, Sep 03: An Indian squirrel travelled 1000s of miles on a ship and landed in Scotland. It is now in the care of animal rescuers who are looking for a new home for the tree-dwelling rodent.

The squirrel travelled about three weeks on the vessel and was found a few days ago after the ship docked in Aberdeen. "They looked after him and were feeding him grapes to keep him well after they took him into custody," New York Post quoted Keith Marley, of New ARC, as saying.

New Arc Wildlife Hospital, North East Wildlife & Animal Rescue Centre, posted a picture of the squirrel, and wrote, "Yesterday evening we received a call from Clara and Natasha, who work for Pest Solutions in Aberdeen. They were on their way to Clipper Quay to pick up a squirrel which had been discovered on a boat arriving from India and wondered if we would be prepared to take him in. Naturally the answer was yes and an hour or so later they arrived with the squirrel safely secured in a pet carrier," read the caption.

"Now, we have to admit that 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. However, we decided to arrange accommodation for the most likely species which was one of the 'banded Squirrels'," the post stated.

The animal shelter said that it was a 'Palm Squirrel' or '3-striped Squirrel', one of the commoner Indian Squirrels and described it a very "fit and active and faster than a speeding bullet earning him the name 'Zippy'." The condition of the squirrel is good and eating well. "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.

According to Marley, the squirrel is unlikely to ship back to India.