The flightless rhea, which weighed around 90lbs, is thought to have escaped several months ago from its enclosure on an estate near Woodbridge, Suffolk.... but it couldn't survive the RSPCA's 'rescue attempt':
It managed to survive the freezing winter and was repeatedly spotted by locals in fields and on lanes around Campsea Ashe, Marlesford, Tunstall and Eyke.
RSPCA spokeswoman Nicola Walker said: 'It was put in a field to recover and appeared to be breathing normally.So, it was running around the countryside perfectly healthily, it's now dead, and you've no idea why, but you aren't going to try to find out, and anyway, you followed procedures, so you're in the clear?
'It lay down for a while, but the new owner said it suffered some sort of panic attack and died.
'We do not know what the cause of death was and we will not be holding a post mortem.
'It could have been suffering from sort of illness before it was rescued by us. It is obviously a very sad ending for all those involved in the rescue.
'We certainly followed all our procedures by the book and we were hoping that it would settle in happily at its new home.'
Did you used to work for the police, love, by any chance?
11 comments:
The good old RSPCA.
A 'charity' that dresses up like police officers.
For some reason.
I wonder if it made a will.
After all, the RSPCA had it in their hands long enough to apply their powers of persuasion...
Great. Not only is it dead, but probably in circumstances which render it inedible. What a waste.
It's a disgrace, something should be done. There should be a law...
We're supposed to live in a modern first world country.
It's long past time that this country had an organisation dedicated to looking after defenceless animals and their welfare. And when something like this happens, prosecute the offenders to the limits of the law. no excuses. No mercy.
You know one of them charity things. Oh wait...
P.S. Perhaps we should sic the RSPB on them? Bit of mission creep going on there I think?
Perhaps we should sic the RSPB on them?
Chuckles - you may be onto something there!
In fact, people would probably pay good money to watch - and no dumb animals would be harmed.
First into the ring I nominate Sharon Crisp against this RSPB warden:
'At RSPB Conwy in response to my "Good morning,is there anything about" I was told in a very sarcastic manner "lots of birds"!!
(From birdingUK)
The RSPB would let it go near one of the wind turbines they are so keen on, and it would end up getting mangled.
But what's this you say? "The flightless rhea" - Oh bugger.....
"We do not know what the cause of death was"
Really?
Tough one. But there's a load of us out here who could give you a hand with that.
Oim still larrfin, although I shouldn't.
He said: "We were concerned for its welfare because of reports that it was crossing roads. We were worried it could have caused a disastrous accident."
East Anglia is smothered in deer, badgers, pumas, wallabies, wild boar, and thousands of uppity pheasants which, although small, run out in the road and give you a right fright. I personally have had a two-foot monitor lizard on my patio (it was a bit of a concrete shed-base really, but I like to pretend by sticking a pot of pansies on it).
The only really dangerous animal is the big black dog which an unknown householder allowed to wander around. The lurcher-cross, although lovely, is a ringer for Black Shuck and I think may have been responsible for accidents on roads which are otherwise clear.
You can't tell because they were fatal accidents.
Sounds similar to the bear conservation methods to me.
"I wonder if it made a will."
:D
"Not only is it dead, but probably in circumstances which render it inedible. What a waste."
Indeed. Not much on the wings, and the breast will be large, though tough, but oh, the drumsticks...!
"P.S. Perhaps we should sic the RSPB on them? "
We could probably sell tickets for that...
"'At RSPB Conwy in response to my "Good morning,is there anything about" I was told in a very sarcastic manner "lots of birds"!!
(From birdingUK)"
There's someone clearly in the wrong job!
"East Anglia is smothered in deer, badgers, pumas, wallabies, wild boar, and thousands of uppity pheasants which, although small, run out in the road and give you a right fright."
If that's going to be the criteria for intervention, the RSPCA are going to be hellishly busy...
"Sounds similar to the bear conservation methods to me."
Indeed!
Perhaps it 'fell down the stairs, honest Sarge'?
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