Rhea-guard action to recapture bird

The cheeky rhea - a five feet tall ostrich-like bird which originates from South America - escaped from Wendy Chalkley's home in Colchester Road, Wix.

A search ensued and at one point eight helpers tried to corner the bird in a field, but the plucky rhea still evaded capture.

One resident reported it in their garden, but it had vanished again by the time help arrived.

It was eventually caught on Sunday afternoon and has now been found a new home. Mrs Chalkley, 52, said the bird went roaming on Thursday night.

She said: "We noticed it was gone on Friday morning. It must have got scared and pushed through the mesh in a fence. We think the fence must have given way and she scrambled out."

Hot on her trail were several guinea fowl which also made a break for freedom.

Sgt Dave Lawrence, of Harwich police, said the guinea fowl were spotted in a school playground and "herded back".

But the rhea proved trickier to catch. Mrs Chalkley said: "I saw it and we were trying to catch it for about three hours but there just weren't enough people."

Eight people tried to corner the bird and throw a net over it but to no avail. Mrs Chalkley said the bird was not dangerous and was vegetarian.

The hunt finally ended on Sunday afternoon when a gamekeeper safely recaptured the bird. Mrs Chalkley had two other rheas and used their eggs for decorating.

She said she already had a buyer for the two other rheas and when their new owners, from Buckinghamshire, arrived they agreed to take the third with them.

Rhea factfile

Rheas come from South America and cannot fly

They resemble an ostrich but are smaller

They are about 5ft tall and weigh 50lbs and have three toes rather than an ostrich's two.

They have a liking for bright objects

In Greek mythology Rhea was one of the Titans and mother of Zeus

Rheas are promiscuous and have several mates.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.