Editing Rhea (bird) (section)

=== Feral populations in Europe ===
A small population of rheas has emerged in [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]], northeastern [[Germany]], after several couples escaped from an exotic meat farm near [[Lübeck]] in the late 1990s. Contrary to expectations, the large birds adapted well to conditions in the German countryside.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.welt.de/wissenschaft/article5701264/Nandus-ein-tierisches-Einwanderungsproblem.html | date=2 January 2010 | access-date=5 November 2014 | last=Kulke | first=Ulli | language=de | title=Nandus – ein tierisches Einwanderungsproblem | trans-title=Rheas – an animal immigration problem | website=Die Welt}}</ref> A monitoring system has been in place since 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nandu.info/index.html | title=Informationen der Arbeitsgruppe Nandumonitoring | language=de | trans-title=Information of the rhea monitoring working group | access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> By 2014, there was already a population of well over 100 birds in an area of {{convert|150|km2}} between the river [[Wakenitz]] and the [[Bundesautobahn 20|A20 motorway]], slowly expanding eastward.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/tierische-einwanderer-nandus-breiten-sich-in-mecklenburg-vorpommern-aus-a-1001114.html|title=Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Nandus vergrößern ihren Lebensraum weiter | access-date=5 November 2014 | newspaper=Der Spiegel | date=5 November 2014 | language=de | trans-title=Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Rheas further extend their habitat}}</ref>

[[File:Greater rhea (Nandu), Lenschow.jpg|left|thumb|Feral greater rhea flock in Germany]]

The population grew steadily for several years. By autumn 2018, their numbers had significantly increased to about 600. As such, local farmers claim increasing damage to their fields, and some biologists say the rheas pose a growing risk to local wildlife. Still protected by German natural conservation law, a local discussion developed regarding how to handle the situation. Eventually, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's government allowed limited hunting of the birds, explicitly to just reduce the population's growth and not to wipe them out. At this point, it was generally agreed that the rheas should be allowed to stay in the region. By spring 2021, just 247 rheas were counted; this development was attributed to both the hunting and the increased caution of the animals. Several had begun to avoid humans more than previously and retreated into the woods.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burghardt |first=Peter | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/nandu-wolf-deutschland-1.5267749 |title=Nandus unter Beschuss | trans-title=Nandus under fire | website=Süddeutsche Zeitung | language=de | date=18 April 2021 | access-date=3 September 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Kontroverse-Nandu-Jagd-in-MV,nandujagd100.html |title=Kontroverse Nandu-Jagd in MV | trans-title=Controversial nandu hunt in MV | website=NDR | language=de | date=24 January 2021 | access-date=3 September 2021 }}</ref> Some members of this rhea population have also expanded into other areas; at least twice individual rheas who probably originated in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were sighted in [[Brandenburg]]'s [[High Fläming Nature Park]], over {{convert|200|km}} from their usual range.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/beitrag/2021/08/nandu-maerkischer-strausse-mark-eva-loth-norbert-eschholz.html |title=Fotografin lichtet schnellen Nandu im Hohen Fläming ab | trans-title=Photographer takes a photo of a fast nandu in High Fläming | website=rbb24 | language=de | date=27 August 2021 | access-date=3 September 2021 }}</ref> By early 2023, 91 rheas were counted in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; the population decline was attributed to both hunting as well as harsher weather of previous years. By this point, German authorities believed a stable population of 50 adult birds would be optimal for the local ecosystem and agriculture. Researchers concluded that the feral population was subject to substantial fluctuations but remained healthy, adaptable, and entrenched in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.de/tiere/2023/08/wilde-nandus-in-deutschland-die-riesenvoegel-vom-schaalsee |title=Wilde Nandus in Deutschland: Die Riesenvögel vom Schaalsee | trans-title=Wild rheas in Germany: The great birds of Schaalsee | website=National Geographic | language=de | date=31 August 2023 | access-date=24 May 2024 }}</ref>

There also appears to be a small population of wild rheas in the [[United Kingdom]]. In March 2021, about 20 rheas were reportedly running free on a residential estate in [[Hertfordshire]]. Local police could not identify any owner, so they assumed they were wild birds. Once caught, authorities intend to place them in a suitable nature reserve to allow them to develop as a colony.<ref>{{Cite web|last=BBC News|date=2021-03-26|title=Rhea birds running wild on Hertfordshire housing estate.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-56535979|access-date=2021-03-26|website=BBC News}}</ref>