The great igscape! Iguana on the run after escaping through cat flap, a fox stuck with his head in a car wheel and a boa constrictor found in a car park are among the RSPCA's best rescues of 2023

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An iguana who got stuck up a tree after he made his great ‘igscape’ through his owner’s cat flap is one of the best rescues of 2023, according to the RSPCA.

The animal rescue charity has today revealed its top rescues of last year, covering all manner of creature who have been found in some of the strangest of places.

In January, a seal pup was found 18 miles inland before he was rescued and returned to the sea.

The seal was found in a farmers field in Lancashire after it went wandering from a nearby river.

The grey seal was spotted about a kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the River Ribble near the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, Preston.

It seems the seal had wandered across three farmers fields before he was spotted by a member of the public who alerted the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), the RSPCA and the nearby Vets4Pets.

The grey seal was spotted about a kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the River Ribble near the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, Preston

The grey seal was spotted about a kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the River Ribble near the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, Preston

This remarkable photograph of a fox cub highlights what a hazard litter can pose to wildlife.

This remarkable photograph of a fox cub highlights what a hazard litter can pose to wildlife.

A deer was rescued by the RSPCA after getting herself wedged between two fencing posts at Standen House and Gardens in West Sussex in November

A deer was rescued by the RSPCA after getting herself wedged between two fencing posts at Standen House and Gardens in West Sussex in November

One of the beavers tasting freedom after arriving at a specialist RSPCA wildlife centre
The beavers were brought into RSPCA West Hatch centre by Secret World Rescue who had responded to a phone call about an animal trapped in Frome, Somerset

Two beavers arrived at a specialist RSPCA wildlife centre after being saved from drowning in an overflow drain

RSPCA animal rescue officer Kelly Nix who was sent to the scene said: ‘The seal had come from the river – which is 18 miles (29km) inland from the coast – but this is not unusual and seals are spotted in our waterways and will happily find their own way back to the sea.’

In May, an iguana named Einstein had to be rescued from a tree after he made his great ‘igscape’ through the cat flap at his home in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

He had been on the run for over 24 hours when he was spotted 12 metres (39ft) up a tree in a nearby neighbour’s garden.

Einstein turned out to be not as clever as his namesake, for he had got himself on a flimsy branch which was making it difficult to reach him by a ladder

Einstein turned out to be not as clever as his namesake, for he had got himself on a flimsy branch which was making it difficult to reach him by a ladder

The RSPCA water rescue team was called into action in Nottinghamshire In October after reports that two horses were at risk of drowning in a flooded field

The RSPCA water rescue team was called into action in Nottinghamshire In October after reports that two horses were at risk of drowning in a flooded field

An RSPCA rescuer demonstrated some neat carpentry skills as she rescued a sheep stuck in a fence in January

An RSPCA rescuer demonstrated some neat carpentry skills as she rescued a sheep stuck in a fence in January

A fox caught up in a metal gate at a house in South London was freed by the RSPCA in November

A fox caught up in a metal gate at a house in South London was freed by the RSPCA in November

The RSPCA was called and requested the assistance of the fire service and a crew from Louth and Horncastle Fire and Rescue attended.

But Einstein turned out to be not as clever as his namesake, for he had got himself on a flimsy branch which was making it difficult to reach him by a ladder.

Reinforcements were called for and Todd Wilson, a tree surgeon who is also an on call firefighter at Horncastle, came to help with the rescue.

He was able to get up the tree and reached the branch to pull Einstein over to him where he placed him in a box and made it secure before bringing him down.

Meanwhile, a missing cat called Mowgli was rescued by the RSPCA after he fell down a 30-metre mine shaft in Callington, Cornwall.

Animal rescue officer Stephen Findlow was called to the scene to rescue the family pet.

RSPCA volunteers working to release a swan
The swan had got himself stuck in a canal lock in Leicestershire

The moment two RSPCA volunteers grab a swan which had got stuck in a canal lock in November

A deer was rescued by the RSPCA after getting herself wedged between two fencing posts at Standen House and Gardens in West Sussex in November

A deer was rescued by the RSPCA after getting herself wedged between two fencing posts at Standen House and Gardens in West Sussex in November

Animal heroes helped a trapped deer to safety after she found herself stuck down a deep hole in Hampshire

Animal heroes helped a trapped deer to safety after she found herself stuck down a deep hole in Hampshire

Missing cat called Mowgli was rescued by the RSPCA after he fell down a 30-metre mine shaft in Callington, Cornwall

Missing cat called Mowgli was rescued by the RSPCA after he fell down a 30-metre mine shaft in Callington, Cornwall

A fox was rescued after getting his head stuck in-between a wooden fence

A fox was rescued after getting his head stuck in-between a wooden fence

The RSPCA rushed to the aid of a deer who had got himself tangled in a tree in Quarry Road, Morley, Derbyshire in November

The RSPCA rushed to the aid of a deer who had got himself tangled in a tree in Quarry Road, Morley, Derbyshire in November

A swan was found in a world famous recording studio where the likes of Oasis, Muse, The Stone Rose, Robert Plant and Jessie J have recorded music, in July

A swan was found in a world famous recording studio where the likes of Oasis, Muse, The Stone Rose, Robert Plant and Jessie J have recorded music, in July

After a tricky rescue, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service made it to the bottom of the mine to help Mowgli back to the surface.

After a quick visit at the local vets who examined Mowgli, he was given the all clear from injuries despite losing 2kg (4.4lb). He was reunited with his sibling and was very happy to see his owner.

He said: ‘The owner had been missing the cat for four days and was constantly brought to the location by her dog, as it sniffed the cat out.

‘This is when the owner heard the calls from Mowgli and alerted us.’

In September, a two-metre long boa constrictor was found in a car park in Plymouth.

It was collected by an animal rescue volunteer and taken to a specialist reptile centre.

And in October 2023, a member of the public spotted a fox with his head stuck in a car wheel outside a storage yard in New Malden.

A fox was wheely lucky to be spotted after getting his head trapped in a car wheel in south west London

A fox was wheely lucky to be spotted after getting his head trapped in a car wheel in south west London

A lucky badger leapt back to his natural habitat in July thanks to an RSPCA officer who rescued him from a four foot hole in the ground

A lucky badger leapt back to his natural habitat in July thanks to an RSPCA officer who rescued him from a four foot hole in the ground

A fox had to be rescued after being spotted tightly entwined in plant-support netting in a garden in Hertfordshire

A fox had to be rescued after being spotted tightly entwined in plant-support netting in a garden in Hertfordshire

RSPCA animal rescue officer Sam Matthews managed to free the fox and said: ‘The poor fox had almost given up and was resigned to his fate. The tyre had only been put there the night before, but he was quite exhausted.

‘I think the young fox was just being inquisitive – he was possibly looking for some food hiding under there. But who knows why he went looking in there!

‘His head was right in the middle of the wheel. I managed to get the fox and the wheel into my van.

‘At no point did the fox put up a struggle. When I got to Wildlife Aid, rescue centre staff were ready and waiting.

‘They managed to manipulate his ear out of the hole. He didn’t have any injuries – just a swollen face.

‘This was a brand new tyre that had only been put there the night before. It’s always worth thinking about storing equipment out of reach of wildlife.’

The fox was released back into the wild near where he was found three days later.

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