This heron has become a regular at the KFC in Thamesmead

London has a pretty impressive set of nature reserves and green spaces to offer local wildlife, but it’s a big old world out there, and some of the residents aren’t content with sticking to their little patch of paradise. The latest London critter who fancies itself as a city slicker is a Thamesmead-based heron.

Thanks to his taste for Kentucky Fried Chicken, he’s become a regular at the Cannon Retail Park KFC drive-thru where he hangs around in hopes of snaffling scraps of chicken. He’s been nicknamed Hannibal the Cannibal by locals – bit unfair tbh, seeing as it’s chicken, not heron, he’s chowing down on.

Locals have reported he stops traffic just to make sure he finishes sampling every chicken dish he snacks on. One commented on a Thamesmead Facebook community group: ‘A few days ago it was eating chicken in the road, it wouldn’t move. I had to drive around it. It would rather be run over than lose its food.’

Looks like the Chicken Connoisseur might have some competition.

Hungry? Here's where to get the best fried chicken in London.