VIDEO: French mayor frees fox whose head was stuck in pipe

A mayor in France has saved a fox who had its head stuck in a plastic pipe, and posted the before and after of the animal in a video on his Instagram page.

Eric Piolle, of the Ecologiste party, is mayor of Grenoble in the southeast of France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).

He saw the fox fighting to free itself from a plastic pipe, which had become stuck around its head like a neck brace.

Mr Piolle saw the fox during a visit to the old city fortifications. He managed to take a video of the animal while also working to free it with the help of other people also there.

Posting on his Instagram account, Mr Piolle thanked the people who had helped with the rescue.

The fox allowed the mayor to approach so he was able to set it free.

It then departed seemingly unhurt.

Normally, animal welfare associations warn people who find animals in the wild to leave them alone, unless they are visibly injured or suffering.

If you do find an injured animal, pick it up with gloves if possible (to avoid transferring your human scent onto it) and take it to a nearby vet, shelter, or animal sanctuary.

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