Rainbow lorikeet escapes Colchester Zoo after landing on visitor

A bird escaped from a zoo after it landed on a visitor as they walked out its enclosure.

The rainbow lorikeet made a break from Colchester Zoo in Heckfordbridge, Essex, on Saturday at 01:00 GMT.

It was last seen in the trees opposite the zoo's nature area and keepers cleared the scene and climbed ladders to try and entice the bird down.

A spokesperson for Colchester City Council said it would offer support in any way it could to help find the bird.

The bird is a species of parrot commonly found in Australia.

A spokesperson for the zoo said: "We put all remaining birds in their outside enclosure so that she could hopefully hear their vocalisations and return, and also left a crate and nectar out overnight, but she didn't come back.

"Staff remain on watch today and we will continue to do everything we can to get the lorikeet back safely."

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830