Emu-like bird spotted around Uffington and near Stamford is Inca the rhea
A giant bird spotted near Stamford has been away from home for more than three months.
Inca, a rhea seen by people numerous times around the Uffington area, ran off from owner Rufus Shoon’s Ridgeview Farm near Belmesthorpe on July 1.
Rufus, 55, who breeds alpacas for their wool, said: “There was too much machinery at the time.
“It was one of those situations when he got spooked and I should have left him to run instead of trying to corral him.
“He went through the hedge and he’s just gone wandering really.”
Rufus said he had seen Inca three times since, most recently on Tuesday when he called to him but Inca walked away.
A farmer friend also captured him in a paddock but just as Rufus tried to grab Inca, he ran away again.
“He’s got a home here and I would like to see him back before the weather changes in case of extremities,” added Rufus.
“There will be bigger gaps in the hedges soon so I’m hoping he’ll come back and recognise where he is.”
Inca is not dangerous but Rufus said people should not try to get hold of him.
The long-legged creature had previously caught the Mercury’s attention after walkers and runners had been caught in ‘stand offs’ with it near Uffington.
The rhea looks like an emu but the species comes from South America originally, rather than Australia.
They can grow up to 170cm tall and reach speeds of more than 30 miles per hour with their wings outstretched, but they can’t fly.
