Rochdale Observer

Sanctuary launches bird hunt after great escape

- Damon.wilkinson@men-news.co.uk @DamonWilki­nson6

THIS rhea is 5ft tall and can run at 20mph - and it’s on the loose after escaping from an animal sanctuary.

The flightless ostrichtyp­e bird was donated to the Animals in Distress sanctuary in Littleboro­ugh, Rochdale, last Wednesday.

But within minutes of arriving at the charity it had leapt a 6ft high fence and escaped onto the surroundin­g moors.

Sanctuary boss Melanie Dunn said: “Rheas are sociable animals.

“We already had one lonely rhea and it’s lovely, so we got another one to keep it company.

“But when we put the new one in the same pen it just started running up and down the fencing at full speed. “It was wild. “There is a 6ft fence into the next door field and it just cleared it, ran down into the next field then just dropped to the floor and hid in the long grass.

“We thought we might be able to catch it so set off after it, but you can’t get within 40 or 50ft of it before it runs off again.”

The rhea is native to South America and is related to the ostrich and emu.

It eats grass and will be able to survive on the moorland, but Melanie says she is eager to get it back.

A number of sightings of the bird have been reported to the sanctuary, which takes in unwanted and abused pets and farm animals and is currently home to dozens of lizards, snakes, goats, sheep, horses, alpacas and chickens, since its escape.

But Melanie says trying to capture it on foot will be almost impossible.

She added: “We had a call saying it was on Blackstone Edge Road so a few of us from the sanctuary went down there to try and bring it back.

“I was looking into the distance trying to spot something moving, and something just shot up right by my feet.

“It must have been hiding in the bracken. It leapt up and shot off at about 20mph.

“I’m beginning think we’ve got chance of catching it.

“We certainly won’t catch it on foot.

“We need quad bikes and nets - it’s just too fast.

“It will be able to survive no problem, but I am just worried about it having an accident.”

Melanie has appealed for anyone with quad bikes and nets willing to take part in a search for the rhea to get in touch on 01706 371731. to no ●●A rhea which has escaped from Animals in Distress sanctuary in Littleboro­ugh, pictured at the side of Blackstone Edge Old Road

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 ??  ?? ●●Melanie Dunn of Animals in Distress said they had no chance of catching the rhea on foot
●●Melanie Dunn of Animals in Distress said they had no chance of catching the rhea on foot

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