Theft of Easter Ross couple's large flightless bird sparks plea for return of their hand-reared rhea James
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THE theft of a large flightless bird that a Ross-shire couple raised from a chick has left them heartbroken – and they are pleading for his return.
Hilary and Jens Andexer, who live at Shandwick House near Tain, said James, a three-year-old rhea was taken from their farm, last Wednesday, probably by someone who is known to them.
Rheas are flightless birds the size of emus which are native to South America. James was hand reared by Mr and Mrs Andexer, after his mother, a rescue bird, laid eggs much to the couple’s surprise.
Mrs Andexer (58), who moved back to the Highlands with her Canadian husband, said: “James is one of the family. Jens and I don’t have children of our own so these birds are our children.
“We hand reared James and he is a nosy boy. He likes to know what everyone is doing, and if we are having a cup of tea in the garden
he likes to be over wondering what he is missing out on.
“He knows everyone who comes to visit and he is very cautious about people that he does not know.”
Mrs Andexer added: “We miss him terribly. It is heartbreaking that he is not around, and we don’t know where he is. He has been taken, we are fairly sure of that, and we think he has been taken by someone, maybe a delivery person, because he just does not go to strangers at all.”
The Andexers rehome and adopt animals from all over Scotland in their animal sanctuary, and have become specialists in rehoming outdoor birds. They have more than 500 chickens on the farm as well as bigger flightless birds and other farm animals.
Mrs Andexer said: “While we have reported it to the police, and they have been very helpful, we really just want him back. So to whoever has him, please return him to us, no questions asked. No police, no judgment. We just want James back with us.
“Rheas are silent animals so it is not as if he would be making any noise, but he must have been taken in the late afternoon between 5pm and 8pm or between 8am and 2.30pm otherwise he would have been hiding out in the long grass and no one would have been able to find him.
“So that leads us to believe that someone must
have taken him home with them. They would have had to have had a van to transport him, and it is not as though he would fit in the boot of a car.
“I am not interested in someone being charged. We just want him home. So if anyone knows where he is please bring him home or phone us to let us know.
“James needs special medication and without it he may die. We really do not want that to happen to him. Please, please just bring him back to us.”
Mr and Mrs Andexer can be contacted on 01862 842 794.
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