AssetID: 54666124
Headline: Fox Trapped In Thick Oil Rescued After Glowing Eyes Spotted In Tar-Like Sludge
Caption: A young fox has been saved after being trapped in a thick, tar-like substance that leaked from a vandalised storage tank beneath an abandoned building in Leicester. The animal had become stuck in the oil, with only its eyes, ears, and nose visible above the sticky mess. The dramatic rescue took place on Thursday, March 27, when a member of the public spotted the distressed animal at Friday Street in the city centre. RSPCA Inspector Helen Smith responded to the call, managing to carefully attach a grasper around the fox’s neck and pull it free from the pit. "I can't believe someone spotted him—it was a miracle," said Helen. "The oil was so thick that it had completely trapped his body. After some effort, I managed to pull him out and rushed him straight to the vet." The fox was immediately taken to a local veterinary clinic, where it was sedated for a major clean-up. "I've never seen anything like it," Helen continued. "The oil was caked on him from head to tail. It took hours to clean him off. By the next day, he was cleaner, though still covered in oil, and we transferred him to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre for further care." The fox, a young male, is recovering well and vets are optimistic about his chances of survival. "Despite the ordeal, he's a fighter," Helen said. "We’re confident he’ll make a full recovery and be released back into the wild soon." Lee Stewart, manager at RSPCA Stapeley Grange, added, "This is the worst oil-related case I've ever dealt with. We had a full team working to clean him, and it required constant monitoring. We're hopeful he will be ready for release by next week." The fox remains under care at the centre, with plans for his rehabilitation underway.
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