An exotic bird seen roaming the Suffolk countryside has been safely captured and taken in by an animal sanctuary.
The six-foot bird, now confirmed to be a rhea, caused a flap when it was seen wandering around a field next to the water tower north of Hollesley, near Woodbridge.
How the bird arrived in the field remains a mystery to staff at Hillside Animal Sanctuary, in Frettenham, Norfolk, who answered the call for help catching the bird, which has been identified as a rhea, native to South America – not an ostrich, or an emu, as speculated.
It took staff a while to net the bird, which can reach speeds of up to 40mph and had eluded previous attempts.
Once caught, they loaded it in a trailer and took it to the sanctuary, where it is staying in a stable.
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