Harris hawk handed in to RSPCA and returned to his owners after he was stolen during first week of tournament
The hawk that patrols the skies of Wimbledon has been returned to its owners after he was snatched by thieves during the first week of the tennis tournament.
Rufus, a harris hawk who keeps pigeons away from the All England Club, was stolen along with his cage between Thursday night and Friday morning.
He has been handed in to the RSPCA in Putney, south-west London, and is safely back in his owners' hands, police have confirmed.
Rufus' twitter account, written by his owners, said: "We can confirm the news is true RUFUS HAS BEEN FOUND safe and well & reunited with family!! Thank you so much for your support #FindRufus".
Rufus was taken from a car parked on a private drive in Dunstall Road, Wimbledon, with the rear window open for ventilation.
His family were left distressed after the four-and-a-half year old, reared as part of the family-run business Avian Environmental Consultants and seen as a pet, was taken.
Rufus, an American harris wawk, has become a well-known fixture at the south-west London club, with visitors often stopping to ask for photos with the hawk.
Hawking was first introduced to the All England Club in 1999 as an environmentally-friendly method of pest control.
Pigeons are not the harris hawk's natural prey, and they are trained not to attack but to circle and fly around the courts to scare the birds.
Rufus is flown each morning and evening of the championships before and after play, but not during, to avoid any distraction.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/01/rufus-wimbledon-hawk-found
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