Emu on the loose after care home escape

An emu is on the loose after escaping from its enclo - sure at a care home.

I t i s t hought t he male bird got through a hole in the fence at Burnfoot care home in Ecclefechan, Dumfries and Galloway.

D e n n i s A g n e w o n l y bought t he bird and i t s female companion a couple of days ago and has found no trace of it since it disappeared at around 3pm on Thursday.

He also keeps animals such as donkeys, alpacas and sheep, some of which visit t he home over t he summer for the residents to see.

Mr Agnew is appealing for people to look out for the missing bird.

Howeve r, c a t c h i n g i t could be a challenge as the birds can run at up to 30 miles an hour.

Mr Ag n e w, who i s a groundsman at the care home, said: “I think it has got out through a hole in the fence. I’ve been all over the place looking but I can’t find it.

“I b o u g h t t wo e mus, male and female, a couple of days ago and I brought them to the home. But yesterday one disappeared.

“As it is 4ft high, you can’t miss the thing – it’s a big grey bird.

“I just need someone to phone and tell me where it is and I’ll get it.”

T h e e mu i s t h e s e c - ond- largest living bird by height, after the ostrich. They can grow up to 2m t a l l a n d c a n l i v e f o r between ten and 20 years in the wild.

Last month, video footage of an emu running down the A82 near Loch Ness went viral after i t was filmed by a surprised cyclist.