A Wiltshire animal sanctuary has shared pictures of emu poo and feathers in an attempt to find a missing emu it fears may have been “swept downstream” in a river.

Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary posted to Facebook on Monday saying its “beautiful emu Irwin” had gone missing, with an update on Tuesday saying “optimism is dwindling”.

A further update from the sanctuary on Tuesday included pictures of emu poo and feathers in the hope that members of the public might spot something.

Irwin has lived in the field for over five years and has never left it before in all weathers so this behaviour is unusual

A spokesperson for the sanctuary told the PA news agency on Tuesday afternoon there had been “no sightings as yet”.

They added: “Volunteers and community are out looking for which we are very grateful and touched. Malmesbury really is a fantastic community.”

A Facebook post from the sanctuary on Monday read: “We have discovered that our beautiful emu Irwin is nowhere to be seen.

“We are concerned for his safety fearing he may have slipped into the river and swept downstream due to the field being partially flooded at the bottom.

“However emus are strong and natural swimmers so it’s more likely that he exited on the opposite side of the river and is now resting in someone’s garden along the stretch between Dark Road and Daniel’s Well.

“Irwin has lived in the field for over five years and has never left it before in all weathers so this behaviour is unusual and therefore likely to be an accident.

“Can we please ask everyone in that area to search their gardens. Keep a look out and to let us know if you have seen any suspicious behaviour around the sanctuary.”

A flightless running bird of the same family as the ostrich and the kiwi, emus are the second-largest living bird in the world behind the ostrich.

On Tuesday, a further post from the sanctuary read: “We thought it might be helpful if we posted some pics of emu poo and their feathers.

“Fresh emu poo has a white streak through it. If it’s a bit old or it has rained it may flatten like the other pic. Emu feathers are long and always come on a joined pair.

“If anyone sees anything of this description please let us know.”

In September, a capybara named Cinnamon shot to fame after escaping from Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, Shropshire.

The adventurous rodent was eventually captured after being spotted in a pond within the zoo’s woodland conservation area.