Devastated mum terrified for missing big bird ‘Basil’ ‘chased by hounds on hunt’

A family have been left devastated after their pet rhea ran away from home possibly by a pack of hounds.

Standing at around five feet tall, Basil has been a part of the Wills family for a decade and is a character that Sophie Will’s children, aged five and nine, have always grown up with.

Exactly what caused Basil to bolt remains unconfirmed, but Sophie told the Daily Star that “a number of witnesses [came] forward who saw him being chased by hounds on the road, these hounds we assume were from the hunt.”

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From Rushden, Northamptonshire, the family have been left heartbroken by the vanishing rhea, a tall flightless bird also known as a South American ostrich.

He went missing at around 1.30pm on January 11.

Sophie explained that she and her family knew that the hunt was in the area that day, but says they’d had no word from it about Basil.

She told the Star: “He absolutely loves his food and has been known to catch his treats in mid-air (the children find this hilarious).

"We are all devastated about his disappearance, not only that he is missing but the way that it has happened has been horrendous.

“The panic and stress he must have experienced for such a sustained period of time are awful to think about.”

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Sophie added: “He has been in our lives for over a decade and we really hope that he is alive, well and hiding somewhere.

“The support on Facebook has been incredible and we are so very grateful for each and every person that has taken the time to comment, share and contact us directly, along with those who have taken time out of their days to look for him.

“We can't thank them enough.”

When the Daily Star spoke again with Sophie moments before publication on January 13 she said there had still been no updates on the big bird’s whereabouts.

“We have so many incredibly kind people looking for him but he hasn't been seen since the initial incident.

“My children are so upset – as is the whole family and community,” she said.

Anyone with any information on Basil is being encouraged to get in touch with the family.

"He's around 5ft and very placid but please do not approach if seen and message either myself, Linda Wright or Robin Wills," Sophie said on Facebook.

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