Anguish as missing emu is swept away in floodwater
An appeal to find a missing emu which is assumed to have been swept away following days of torrential rain has been shared. Irwin, the missing emu, from Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary, was noticed missing this morning, Thursday, September 30.
It is believed that Irwin may have slipped into the nearby river and been swept downstream after the field was flooded. The Met Office issued a number of weather warnings for the region over the weekend, with the Environment Agency warning of possible floods too.
Emus are natural swimmers, so it is believed that Irwin may have been able to get out of the river opposite to his field. Anyone in the area along the river, between Dark Lane and Daniel's Well is asked to look out for the missing bird.
Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary has put out an appeal for anyone who see's the missing emu. It said: "This morning we have discovered that our beautiful emu Irwin is nowhere to be seen. We are concerned for his safety fearing he may have slipped into the river and swept downstream due to the field being partially flooded at the bottom.
"However emus are strong and natural swimmers so it’s more likely that he exited on the opposite side of the river and is now resting in someone’s garden along the stretch between Dark Road and Daniel’s Well.
"Irwin has lived in the field for over five years and has never left it before in all weathers so this behaviour is unusual and therefore likely to be an accident."
BristolLive reported back in 2022 how a man attempting to escape police came face to face with a mob of emus. After crashing into a utility shop in Malmesbury, a driver fled the scene before he came across a farm which keeps exotic animals.
After jumping the fence, the runaway driver found himself facing angry emus. Left with very few options, the man was then arrested by Wiltshire Police.