London

Anyone lose an emu? Because there's one on the loose near London

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The emu is the second-largest living bird on the planet and is native to Australia

An emu takes a stroll on Muncey Road in Mount Brydges Wednesday. The photo has since caused a stir on social media. (Ashley Lynn/Facebook)

A wayward emu is creating a social media storm after someone snapped a photo of the giant bird taking a walk on Muncey Road in Mount Brydges, west of London.

The photo was posted to the Facebook group "Just ASK Mount Brydges & Area" Wednesday and has since been shared hundreds of times.

It's the second time in as many years that one of the large flightless birds that are native to Australia has been seen wandering around the community.

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In 2016, an emu escaped from local berry patch, Kusterman's Berry Farm, but the owner told CBC News Wednesday that the bird, who he says has reportedly been on the lam since Tuesday is not one of his.

"We have both of ours," Steve Kusterman said. "I have no idea who that would belong to."

Salthaven Wildlife and Education Centre in London told CBC News Wednesday that it had one call about the delinquent bird on Tuesday, but nothing since.

Emu farming in Canada has declined significantly in Canada over the years.

According to Statistics Canda, the number of farms that reported raising emus declined from 910 farms raising almost 60,000 birds in 1996 to 186 farms raising some 4,000 birds in 2006.

with files from Brenden Dixon