A desperate New Zealander called police in Dunedin in the south of the country and said they were being held hostage by a particularly aggressive possum. The New Zealand Herald, citing authorities, reported that the marsupial harassed the woman every time she tried to leave the house and get help.

When the officers arrived, the little animal came out of hiding and climbed onto the leg of a police officer. Emergency services assumed it was either a runaway pet or a wild opossum separated from its mother. The aggressive marsupial was moved to a remote area and released to prevent further harassment. The animal, the woman and the police officers were not injured during the operation.

Opossums live in the ocean area and are about the size of a cat. Nocturnal omnivores are usually shy of humans, but can be a nuisance in urban areas.

From: APA / dpa