Escaped Doncaster emu on run for five days 'back home', according to reports

The six-foot bird named Ethel fled its home last Thursday with people reporting sightings across Doncaster.

Owner Kerry Dobson had made a plea for fresh information yesterday and it is understood the bird is now back home after roaming fields in and around Sprotbrough and Cusworth across the weekend.

A post on the Our Sprotbrough Facebook page, along with a picture of Ethel, simply said: “She’s home, thanks for sharing.”

The Free Press is attempting to verify the claims.

The news was met with delight from Facebook users.

Rebecca Brasher posted: “The emu has landed - great news she’s home,” while Anne Weatherall wrote: “So glad that she’s ok.”

Yesterday the bird's owner Kerry Dobson put out a desperate appeal to get her feathery pal back home after she suddenly escaped from their property in Doncaster.

Kerry, who is originally from Sheffield, said: “She's terrified. She’s been running since Thursday so could be anywhere. She's had stones thrown at her and all sorts, she's not used to being out she must be terrified.”

The escape has made national headlines with today’s Daily Star featuring it on their front page, alongside radio and TV reports.

There had been several attempts to recapture Ethel, but everytime she was approached, she darted off again, outpacing potential captors with speeds of up to 30mph.

Both South Yorkshire Police and the RSPCA had been bombarded with calls about the bird.

A police spokesman said: “The last sightings suggested it was heading back towards where it was believed to live in Sprotbrough, but we are unable to confirm if it was reunited with its owner as it ran off from officers and we then could not locate it.

“No one came forward from our post on social media to say they were the owners.”

Ethel was later spotted in Newlands Park, Sprotbrough and on the Trans Pennine Trail near Cusworth.