Rambo reunited with owner!

The Eagle owl that went missing last week has been found safe and well - owner Simon chats to us first about his relief.

When I speak to Simon, you can hear the relief in his voice, "I literally have hardly slept since he went missing, and I've been out searching for him ever since. I've walked 19.6 miles trying to find him."

The Eurasian Eagle owl went missing last Thursday morning, "I was flying him along the beach, like I always do, and a jet came over really low, and it spooked him and he just went super high and then went off in the wrong direction and got lost."

Meeting Rambo last month

I first met Simon and Rambo a month ago, when he explained he'd rescued the Eagle owl a few years back, "The previous owners who had him just locked him up in an enclosure for far too long, and they had a breeder ring on him that was far too small and it grew into his foot, so he’s only got use of one leg.”

And that's why Simon's been so worried, "Because he can't survive in the wild, I knew he'd only have a few days left - every time I came home and thought shall I get some rest, I thought no - that's an hour that I could be looking for him."

But thankfully this morning Rambo was found in Heacham, and to Simon's relief he's okay, "Not a mark on him, he was starving hungry though."

The moment the pair were reunited

"It's as the most emotional thing ever being reunited with him.  When I got him everything just lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I wanted to collapse.  I came close to him a few times, but something always scared him off, I was 6 feet away from him at one point but then a dog barked and it scared him off.

"When we found Rambo, he was a ten minute walk from my house - but it took me over an hour to get home because everybody kept stopping me and saying oh you've found him, I'm so pleased. I also passed about 7 people who were out looking for him.

"Personally I want to thank everyone, from Heacham and all the surrounding areas - the support and love I've had is unbelievable and is completely overwhelming as well.  I particularly want to thank Nigel Marsh, who runs 'my mini break', without his help I wouldn't have got Rambo back."

Moon and Rambo

It's not just people that have been missing Rambo, Simon says barn owl Moon 'has been off his food as well'.  The pair are often seen out and about with Simon, who for the last few years has been helping injured owls.

Simon and Rambo last month

Before Simon goes (to have a well deserved rest) he ends by telling me, "It's unbelievable - I can't explain what it feels like to have him back."

Welcome home Rambo!

When I met Simon, Rambo and Moon last month