Wimbledon’s hawk snatched from car

Published on 01/07/2012 00:00

The hawk that patrols Wimbledon to deter pigeons has been stolen.

Police are investigating the theft of Harris Hawk Rufus, who was stolen along with his cage overnight between Thursday and Friday from a car parked in Wimbledon.

A spokesman said Rufus was in the car parked on a private drive in Dunstall Road with the rear window open for ventilation.

The hawk, which deters pigeons at the All England Club purely by his presence, is also a family pet, he said.

“The family has become very attached to the bird who is now four-and-a-half years old. They are distressed over the theft and are appealing for help to recover the bird.”

Rufus has become a fixture at the south-west London club, with visitors often stopping to ask for photos with the hawk.

He even has his own Twitter account. His last tweet was before Rafael Nadal’s shock exit from the tournament. It said: “Murray is through, Rafa is down 2-1 (!), Ward played brilliantly but lost to Mardy Fish, and Italy are beating Germany 1-0!”

Owner Imogen Davis, 25, said her family was still in shock after Rufus’ disappearance.

“It’s really, really sad,” she said. “He was taken in his travelling box, which is where he sleeps because it’s nice and dark and cool and he can fall asleep in there.

“We’re very, very shocked, we just want to know he’s okay.”

She said they have reared four-year-old Rufus as part of the business Avian Environmental Consultants. “It’s a family business, the birds are brought up around us. They’re part of the family. It’s just the way it is. We work as a team together. To have him taken away like that is just horrible.”

Davis said she originally thought it was a prank, but was later not so certain, since a falconry glove and falconry hood were stolen at the same time.