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Picnic hamsters were one of the first experiments in genetic engineering, with the rodents being injected with genetic material from various marsupials and osier withies in order to create integrated fur-wicker pouches which could be used for transporting pork pies, pickled onions and similarly essential provender for informal al fresco gatherings.
Although initially quite popular, it soon became apparent that the hybrid hamsters became aggressive when exposed to Scotch eggs and after several small baronets were badly mauled, they were banned by Act of Parliament in 1919.
It’s thought that the experiments inspired the creation of the original communist flag depicting the hamster and pickle, though Vladimir Putin has recently excised any reference to this from the nation’s historical records.