An enchanting late-night scene in Lincoln city centre has captured the nation's imagination, as CCTV footage revealed an otter and a fox taking a peaceful stroll together.
An Unlikely Friendship Captured on Camera
The remarkable encounter occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, when surveillance cameras operated by City of Lincoln Council recorded the unusual pair wandering through Brayford Pool and High Street areas. The council immediately recognised the footage's extraordinary nature, comparing it to something straight out of a heartwarming Christmas advertisement.
Steve Nichol, chief executive of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Boston, expressed his astonishment at the scenes, describing them as so strange they had to be seen to be believed. "It's so odd and those animals would never been seen hunting in the same areas. If anything they'd be fighting each other rather than walking around the shops," he remarked.
Wildlife Experts Baffled by Urban Sighting
Nichol emphasised the particular unusualness of seeing an otter in such a populated urban environment. "You might see the odd fox around a city centre but to find an otter in a populated area is highly unusual," he explained. The origins of both animals and what prompted their joint midnight exploration of Lincoln remains a mystery that has left wildlife specialists puzzled.
The City of Lincoln Council shared their delightful discovery on Facebook, where their CCTV staff highlighted their round-the-clock work to keep Lincoln and all its inhabitants safe. Their social media post charmingly noted: "They see families enjoying the city, friends making memories, and every now and then, an unlikely friendship blossoming. This week, they caught one worth sharing."
Social Media Reaction and Viral Sensation
The footage quickly became an internet sensation, with viewers flooding the comments section with their delight and disbelief. One enthusiastic observer declared it "Better than a Christmas John Lewis TV advert," while another expressed their amazement: "How delightful to see that! We often see a pair of ducks waddling about but this is amazing."
The clip prompted such wonder that some viewers even questioned whether the video was genuine or generated by artificial intelligence. However, the authenticity of the footage has been confirmed by the council, making this unusual animal encounter one of Lincoln's most charming recent stories.
The council's Facebook post perfectly captured the moment's magic, stating: "It's not quite the new John Lewis Christmas ad, but here, filmed in the wee small hours, is a short film of a fox and an otter and their little tour of Lincoln together."
