The rhea that recently escaped is still running loose on the Mantingerveld. The flightless bird has now been spotted by several people and also captured on video.
According to local residents, he has been there for almost two weeks and is ‘a real sight’. The rhea is difficult to catch, so it has not yet returned to its owner.
The flightless bird shows itself mainly in the afternoon. Then it usually comes closer to the N374 at Nieuw-Balinge. In the morning and evening, the animal seems to camp elsewhere in the nature reserve.
Natuurmonumenten said last week that two attempts have already been made to numb the rhea, but that failed. “I suspect the syringe bounced off because of the feathers,” said forest ranger Bernd Danhof.
He also indicated that it is difficult to enter the Mantingerveld. “It’s breeding season, so we have to be careful.” According to Danhof, the rhea are owned by people who ‘just have the animals in the garden’.
Check out the images of the nandu below: