The recent reports that a puma could be stalking Carmyle New Park have us thinking about all the other unusual animals that have been on the loose in and around Glasgow over the years.

We’ve put together a list of animals big and small that have turned up in bizarre places below.

You might be surprised to find that it’s a real jungle out there.

The Forth and Clyde Canal Terrapin

Stranger things have happened down by the Clyde, but Police Scotland were shocked to receive a call about a Terrapin who had found itself entangled in weeds this month.

They joked: “What the shell... Not what you see every day in the Forth and Clyde Canal.

"This terrapin is now safely with the Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals. We did manage to get a shell-fie before he was taken away."

The Cambuslang Monkey

There was some real monkey business at Cambuslang station in June this year when a marmoset escaped from its owners.

ScotRail staff member Megan tweeted "I've dealt with lost phones, handbags and glasses over the years but this is definitely a first.

"If you've lost your monkey... it's waiting on the next service from Cambuslang into town."

The Carluke Wallaby

Radio presenter Gary Muircroft found himself late for work last month after coming face to face with a Wallaby in Carluke.

It’s understood that the wallaby escaped from the nearby Clyde Valley Family Park and was at large for at least a day.

Grant Bell of the park said at the time:  “They're quite elusive creatures and can disappear into the undergrowth. They're harmless, they are about the size of a small dog. If anyone can close their garden gates behind it and call us, we can come up with the rescue net."

 

The Greenock Snakes

Granted, this great escape took place in Greenock, but anyone with a phobia of all things serpentine will probably be happy that this wasn’t any closer to home.

Walkers spotted one on the hillside at The Cut and another was found just across the road from the Broomhill Tavern pub.

One of the snakes was later confirmed to be a Burmese Python measuring in at a massive 14ft.

We have goosebumps just thinking about it.

Glasgow Times:

The Rutherglen Sugar Glider

A resident of Croftfoot Street was amazed to find a Sugar Glider, native to Australia, hanging from a towel on their washing line in August of 2020

 Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer, Amy Stirton said at the time: “I’ve never come across a sugar glider in Scotland so this was a very unusual rescue. Sugar gliders get their name from the fact their diet is high in sweet foods such as nectar and pollen. They can also glide the length of a football pitch in one go due to their tiny webbed ‘wings’.”

Glasgow Times:

The George Square Elephants

Although these giants were captive and visiting the city as part of a circus act back in 1957, the photos of elephants parading through George Square are still completely jaw dropping.

Glasgow Times:

The Pollok Cow

It might not the most exotic of creatures on the list, but this highland cow wreaked havoc in January 2020 by blocking the train lines from Busby and Pollokshaws.

The daring escaped from Pollok Park and caused havoc for rush hour commuters.

Scotrail tweeted: “UPDATE: Absolute unit spotted on the track at Pollokshaws West. Sorry if you're being delayed due to this.

@NetworkRailScot track staff on their way to attempt to encourage these coos to mooove back to the park.

Glasgow Times: