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The Great "fish" escape
The owners of a trout farm were amazed a photographer caught their fish making an extraordinary escape on camera.
A wildlife photographer captured fish making an amazing escape from a Hampshire trout farm /Rex
He pictured the trout making giant leaps out of their pond into a metal feed pipe three feet above the water level.
They then fought against the current for 30ft to the end of the eight inch wide pipe, which emerges underwater in a tributary of the River Itchen near Alresford, Hants.
Wildlife photographer Dennis Bright, 59, captured the aerobatic fish.
He said: "It was an incredible sight. Swimming against the current is instinctive for trout as they head up stream to spawn but they are doing a remarkable job getting through that pipe.
"They are jumping for freedom in large volumes but sadly I think their fate will be less than happy - there are otter, herons and many other predators feeding from the stream."
David Riley, owner of Hampshire Trout Farms, said he would be extremely surprised if more than one or two fish were making it through.
He said: "I have been a farmer here for about 30 years and have never seen a fish make it to the other side but I know Dennis and if he says he has seen it I believe him."
David Bassett, of the British Trout Association, said: "They will be thinking that water falling from the pipe is a waterfall leading upstream. Then they will follow their natural life cycle to get upstream."
And Paul Knight, of the Salmon and Trout Association, added: "They will follow instinct. I don't think they would be looking up at the pipe and thinking, 'Come on lads, let's go for it.'"
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