This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-warning-over-aggressive-escaped-rhea-bird-on-the-loose-in-nottinghamshire-10345553.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police warning over 'aggressive' giant rhea bird on the loose in Nottinghamshire | Police warning over 'aggressive' giant rhea bird on the loose in Nottinghamshire |
| (6 months later) | |
| People in Nottinghamshire are being warned to avoid a large ostrich-like bird that is on the run and “poses a very real threat to the public”. | People in Nottinghamshire are being warned to avoid a large ostrich-like bird that is on the run and “poses a very real threat to the public”. |
| The 6ft-tall rhea was reported missing from its enclosure in Carlton-in-Lindrick, near Worksop, on Tuesday and has not been seen since. | The 6ft-tall rhea was reported missing from its enclosure in Carlton-in-Lindrick, near Worksop, on Tuesday and has not been seen since. |
| Armed police were originally sent on the hunt but officers are now waiting for the fugitive bird to be spotted before deciding on a course of action. | Armed police were originally sent on the hunt but officers are now waiting for the fugitive bird to be spotted before deciding on a course of action. |
| Inspector Paul Peatfield, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are warning local people and particularly those with small children to be on their guard and not to approach the bird, which poses a very real threat to the public due to its size, aggressive nature and the unfamiliar surroundings it could find itself in. | Inspector Paul Peatfield, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are warning local people and particularly those with small children to be on their guard and not to approach the bird, which poses a very real threat to the public due to its size, aggressive nature and the unfamiliar surroundings it could find itself in. |
| “Officers are working with the owner to trace the bird as we look to bring his incident to a safe conclusion.” | “Officers are working with the owner to trace the bird as we look to bring his incident to a safe conclusion.” |
| The male rhea, a flightless bird native to South America, is understood to have gone missing between 5pm on Monday and noon on Tuesday. | The male rhea, a flightless bird native to South America, is understood to have gone missing between 5pm on Monday and noon on Tuesday. |
| His owner, Alex Macdonald, said he had no idea how it could have escaped and feared the exotic bird may have been stolen. | His owner, Alex Macdonald, said he had no idea how it could have escaped and feared the exotic bird may have been stolen. |
| He kept it with a female mate and the male had been sitting on their eggs, meaning he would normally be unlikely to stray far. | |
| Mr Macdonald said the male was “aggressive and very protective”, adding: “People take it lightly because they think it's just a little bird. | Mr Macdonald said the male was “aggressive and very protective”, adding: “People take it lightly because they think it's just a little bird. |
| “But they don't understand, until you get into a field with one and wrestle one - they've got claws, they kick like mad. | “But they don't understand, until you get into a field with one and wrestle one - they've got claws, they kick like mad. |
| “They're quite powerful and they can run quite fast - 30 mph probably. That's quick.” | “They're quite powerful and they can run quite fast - 30 mph probably. That's quick.” |
| In an interview with Sky News, he said: “They have serious claws. | In an interview with Sky News, he said: “They have serious claws. |
| “And if you go near it, it will go for you. There is no two ways about it. That's just what it will do.” | “And if you go near it, it will go for you. There is no two ways about it. That's just what it will do.” |
| Today, the bird's partner was pacing the field they shared, apparently looking for him. | Today, the bird's partner was pacing the field they shared, apparently looking for him. |
| “They used to play a lot running around the fields and stuff and she's not doing that at the minute. She's just getting over the fact she's on her own now,” Mr Macdonald said. | |
| “It's speculation but I think it's been taken. Nobody's reported it and it's something you would report if you saw it.” | “It's speculation but I think it's been taken. Nobody's reported it and it's something you would report if you saw it.” |
| Mr Macdonald, whose family also keeps alpacas, goats and other animals, said there are CCTV cameras all over the farm which are being combed for evidence. | Mr Macdonald, whose family also keeps alpacas, goats and other animals, said there are CCTV cameras all over the farm which are being combed for evidence. |
| He hypothesised that thieves would have difficulty getting it into a car and said four men were needed to wrestle the bird to the ground when it needed to be moved. | He hypothesised that thieves would have difficulty getting it into a car and said four men were needed to wrestle the bird to the ground when it needed to be moved. |
| Mr Macdonald praised the police for taking the disappearance very seriously, despite a couple of “inevitable rhea jokes”. | Mr Macdonald praised the police for taking the disappearance very seriously, despite a couple of “inevitable rhea jokes”. |
| “They had rifles, shotguns. There were marksmen who came, they were ready to take it out,” he said. | “They had rifles, shotguns. There were marksmen who came, they were ready to take it out,” he said. |
| The family has raised almost a dozen rheas from eggs to sell them for meat. | |
| Last year, another rhea - nicknamed Chris after the Road To Hell singer - went on the run in Hertfordshire. | Last year, another rhea - nicknamed Chris after the Road To Hell singer - went on the run in Hertfordshire. |
| The 6ft bird became a familiar face at a golf club near Royston after it escaped from its nearby home in April 2014, but police were worried it could cause a car crash. | The 6ft bird became a familiar face at a golf club near Royston after it escaped from its nearby home in April 2014, but police were worried it could cause a car crash. |
| “Chris” was shot dead after more than a month on the loose by a gamekeeper, who turned it into sausages. | “Chris” was shot dead after more than a month on the loose by a gamekeeper, who turned it into sausages. |
| Anyone who sees the bird is asked to call 999 immediately, quoting incident number 601. | Anyone who sees the bird is asked to call 999 immediately, quoting incident number 601. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |