THE owner of a rare animal says he is "gutted" after she went missing.

Charlie Plumb, from Pocklington, runs an exotic animal company and Palesa, his Tanuki - a type of Asian fox - disappeared from its enclosure in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Plumb, who this week introduced a male Tanuki into the enclosure, said he was worried Palesa may have been hit by a car, and urged anyone who has seen the animal - which is also known as a raccoon dog - to contact him.

Earlier this week, he had spoken to The Press after a member of the public who had seen him with Palese at a car boot sale mistook her for a badger and rang police.

He said: "I looked out the window about 6.30, 7am and saw Simba walking into the hutch, and thought that's nice, they're both in there.

"I went out later to put their harnesses on and Palesa didn't come out, I could only see Simba. She's pushed and pushed and worked the bottom of the door loose and crawled out of the gap she's made."

Palesa is microchipped, and Mr Plumb said sightings of her had already been reported but she is still missing.

He asked anyone who sees her to offer her some fruit, and pick her up by the back of the neck, as if lifting a cat.

Mr Plumb said: "I'm absolutely gutted. All the work we've done to get here to the stage where she is now.

"My worst nightmare is she's been hit by a car."

  • Any sightings can be reported to Mr Plumb on 07526 726626, or through his Facebook page Hi n Lo Exotics.