Is Escaped Rhea Chasing Birds At College?

An aggressive 6ft rhea bird that is being hunted by police may have been spotted approaching female birds at a nearby college.

Two new sightings of the male were reported in north Nottinghamshire following an appeal by the owners on Sky News on Thursday.

The bird disappeared from the smallholding in the village of Carlton in Lindrick near Worksop between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

His mate has been left alone and their eggs have been placed in an incubator while the male is at large.

Owner Alex MacDonald confirmed to Sky News that Nottinghamshire Police had reported two possible sightings.

The first was at a college in Dinnington, five miles north of the bird's home village.

Mr MacDonald said: "A woman working there has reported seeing the bird near the rugby club fields near Doe Quarry Lane.

"They have a smallholding at the college where they keep two female rhea themselves.

"The thinking behind it is that he could be responding to hearing their call as it is mating season."

The family believed the bird may have been stolen but the sightings have provided hope that he may be found alive.

The second possible sighting was at Kilton golf course on the outskirts of nearby Worksop, where a driver reported seeing the bird running across a field.

Mr MacDonald joined searches at both locations with the police but they could find no further sign of the missing creature.

Rhea birds, which are native to South America, do not fly but can run very fast.

As a breed they do not tend to be hostile, but the Nottinghamshire bird is known to be vicious.

Police have warned it poses "a very real threat to the public due to its size, aggressive nature and the unfamiliar surroundings it could find itself in".

Anyone who spots it is urged to call 999, quoting incident number 601 of Tuesday 23 June.