The story of Irwin, an emu who went missing in England, has sadly come to a sad end: the body of the “happy bird”, as the Malmesbury animal shelter in Wiltshire described him, was found dead in the River Avon.
Unfortunately, certainty: Emu “Irwin” drowned in the waters of the Avon. (Foto: Malmesbury animal sanctuary)
Shelter staff believe Irwin slipped into the swollen river while playing with other emus and drowned. After the emu disappeared last Monday, a search was launched using volunteers and a drone.
The shelter was optimistic that Irwin might have survived since emus are actually good swimmers. The lifeless body was found when floodwaters near a bridge over the River Avon had receded enough to allow a search.
“We sincerely hope that Irwin did not have to suffer for long.”
An official statement from the shelter said: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved emu Irwin has been found dead. We sincerely hope that Irwin did not suffer for long.”
Under normal circumstances, a slip on the river would probably not have been a problem, but it happened at night and at a time when emus eyesight is not optimal. After the heavy rains, the area around the river was soggy and very slippery.
“We believe that due to these conditions, and perhaps due to shock, he simply did not have enough opportunity to right himself and swim to safety,” the animal shelter continues. “Goodbye, Irwin. You precious boy.” He was well liked, clearly.
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