6-foot-tall runaway is 'aggressive' and on the loose in Britain

 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- Nottinghamshire Police in England have issued an urgent warning regarding a dangerous, escaped runaway, but no one seems to be taking them seriously.

The runaway in question has been described as 'aggressive', and is thought to be missing and on the loose in north Nottinghamshire. Also, it's a bird.

PLEASE RETWEET... Police warning after aggressive ostrich-like bird reported missing in north Nottinghamshire | http://t.co/j4mRSJRAys— Notts Police (@nottspolice) June 23, 2015

The warning was issued on Tuesday, and Twitter was quick to respond.

@PhilipJGodfrey @nottspolice 'Lostrich'?— Alex C (@itsalexchapman) June 23, 2015

@Tweets2CV @nottspolice Didn't the person who lost it know what kind of bird they own?— Sheanderthal (@Sheanderthal) June 23, 2015

@nottspolice @oneliferideit is it yellow and about 8ft tall?— Scott Swalling (@sasmojo) June 23, 2015

@nottspolice shouldn't you have protected the identity of the bird in the photo?— lmao (@lmao0825) June 23, 2015

@nottspolice If you will be releasing an official photo-fit, I suggest something along the lines of this pic.twitter.com/QNX1dCLSqp— Lewis John Stevens (@un_even_stevens) June 23, 2015

@itvthismorning Saw it whilst driving in my rhea view mirror? #thismorning— Alf Love (@alf_love47) June 25, 2015

@Independent Please tell me he is called Chris— Keith King (@diabeticguy) June 25, 2015

Missing Rhea spotted on @itvthismorning pic.twitter.com/RBWMQuPj8U— Dean Bullman (@deanbullman) June 25, 2015

It turns out the bird is a six-foot-tall rhea – a relation to the ostrich that's native to South America. The bird's owner, Alex MacDonald, told the Telegraph that the bird is not to be messed with.

"People take it lightly because they think it's just a little bird. But [you] don't understand until you get into a field with one and wrestle one: they've got claws, they kick like mad. They're quite powerful and they can run quite fast – 30 mph probably."

The bird has been missing for two days now, and the search continues.

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