Norfolk's wild rhea chase ends as all 12 birds caught near Stalham

The rheas - which are large flightless birds distantly related to ostriches and emus - escaped from a farm in Common Road, near Stalham, on June 21.

Now, after three weeks of the wild rhea chase - with alleged sightings of the birds being reported across Norfolk – the runaway birds have all been retrieved and returned to the farm.

The missing rheas were caught using drones and quad bikes (Image: Denise Bradley)

READ MORE: Beach bell 'mischievously unscrewed' by vandals just days after unveiling

Melanie Wymer, the niece of the farmer who owns the rheas, said: “All 12 have now been found.

“There was a team of us from the farm who know how to handle them out looking for them.

The escaped rheas. (Image: Amy Jade Watson)

“Most of the missing birds were reported to us by farmers who had found them in their fields.

“It’s been a hectic three weeks but we’re glad that we’ve got them back so we can return to normality.”

Drones were used in the search and the rescue team used quad bikes to recover the birds, which Miss Wymer said were all “alive and well”.

READ MORE: Louis Vuitton takes family-run business to court in trademark row

Most of the birds were found hiding in fields in nearby villages, such as Brumstead, East Ruston and Ingham – despite reported ‘sightings’ coming from as far away as Swanton Morley and Happisburgh.

The rheas were thought to have forced their way out of their enclosure at the farm before police responded to a call from residents in Stalham who woke up to see the five-foot-tall birds in their gardens.

Miss Wymer said their pen has now been made more secure to stop them from going on any future adventures.

“We thought we might never have found them because you never know with foxes and what’s out there,” she added.

“Thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us find them.”