An escaped ram which terrorised a town after going on the run for nearly 100 days has finally been captured by the RSPCA, it emerged today.
Rupert the ram escaped from a farm near Aylesbury, Bucks., in July this year after spotting a gap between a hedge and fence.
The Soay ram spent the next three months eating grass and flowers from gardens and the RSPCA received scores of sightings from concerned residents.
But inspectors were unable to corner Rupert despite several attempts and police officers were also unable to catch him.
He was finally captured on October 26 by RSPCA inspector Will Rippon, who admitted the animal was ”quite difficult” to locate.
”We are delighted to have finally been able to catch the ram, after a number of attempts,” he said.
”It is great that he is now being cared for in a safe place, where hopefully he can’t get into any more mischief.
”He did prove quite difficult to catch, but we kept persevering and thankfully it paid off.”
It is not known where Rupert lived and slept during his months on the run but the police and RSPCA received scores of sightings.
The animal was finally caught in the garden of a cul-de-sac in Aylesbury on October 26 by inspectors from the RSPCA.
He received treatment for an injury to his leg and has now been taken to Wood Green Animal Shelters near Huntingdon, Cambs.
Wood Green worker Deborah Wild said: ”Rupert, as he has been named by staff, is settling in well at Wood Green.
”At first we thought he was quite timid but he is a bit of a mischief maker. He has been checked over by the vet and will soon be out on the fields with the other animals.
”We hope he will be available for rehoming in a few weeks time.”