Escaped emu on the loose in Dumfries and Galloway

An emu has been on the run for more than 24-hours after escaping during a visit to a care home in Dumfries and Galloway.
The 4ft bird escaped through a hole in the fence at Burnfoot Care Home in Ecclefechan. Picture: Mathias Appel/FlickrThe 4ft bird escaped through a hole in the fence at Burnfoot Care Home in Ecclefechan. Picture: Mathias Appel/Flickr
The 4ft bird escaped through a hole in the fence at Burnfoot Care Home in Ecclefechan. Picture: Mathias Appel/Flickr

The male bird, which stands 4ft tall, was brought to visit elderly residents, along with a female emu.

But since it escaped through a hole in the fence at Burnfoot Care Home in Ecclefechan, Dumfries and Galloway yesterday, there have been no sightings of it.

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The emu vanished at 3pm, and as it can run at speeds of 35mph, it could have covered a wide expanse of land.

Dennis Agnew, 52, a groundsman at the care home, brought the emus to visit as it is believed visits from animals help dementia sufferers.

Mr Agnew said: “I bought two emus, 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 went through the woods and I still can’t find it.

“The Burnfoot Care Home is an old folks home and the animals help them with their dementia.

“It’s there somewhere, I just don’t know where.

“It’s a big bird but they are really quick, they can run at about 35mph.

“It must have gone through a hole in the fence.

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

The emu is the second-largest living bird by height, after its relative, the ostrich.

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They can grow up to 2m tall and can live between ten and 20 years in the wild.

Mr Agnew added: “I’ve had to take the female one back to the farm because it looks unsettled.”

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