Wildlife rescuers were amazed when a rare European Eagle Owl arrived at their reception centre in Leatherhead.

From March: PICTURES: Fox cub thought to be only 30-minutes-old and abandoned baby squirrels taken in by Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead

From March: Easter bunny rehomed in Twickenham after rescue from bins of Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead

The huge bird of prey had been discovered collapsed at the bottom of a tree in Gatton Park, Reigate, by a member of the public.

Surrey Comet:

The exhausted and underweight owl is thought to have either escaped from its owner or been purposely freed. It is now recuperating in one of the large aviaries in the Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) centre in Randalls Road.

WAF founder and CEO Simon Cowell said: “The owl does have a ring on its leg so it has been owned by someone. We have made efforts to trace an owner but have so far been unsuccessful and so we are still working out what to do with the magnificent predator.

“It is a beautiful animal and we will endeavour to do the best for it. At present it is recuperating and putting weight back on. It was thin and undernourished when it was bought in, which suggests that it didn’t know how to hunt.”

Eagle owls are one of the largest members of the owl family and their wingspan can grow to over 6ft but they are a rare sight in Surrey.

Mr Cowell added: “We’ve only ever seen one eagle owl at the centre before and that was one that had escaped from a prison. The inmates were being taught falconry and the owl made a bid for freedom.”

The unusual arrival joins a growing number of new patients at the WAF hospital which has seen a rise in orphaned baby animals over the past month.

Each spring the centre experiences a sharp spike in activity as young animals are born in the wild and succumb to injury and abandonment. The 24/7 service provided by Wildlife Aid Foundation relies on volunteers and donations and the charity is appealing for new volunteers to help with the increased demand, particularly as many student helpers are leaving to sit exams.

Office manager Becky Banning said: “As well as the many opportunities in animal care, we also need help on our busy reception desk and in the office.

“For those with more practical skills we need help maintaining the centre; from fixing broken pens to making bird boxes. We will always offer full training in all the roles, all we ask is an enthusiasm for helping, and of course a love of animals.”

To find out more, see www.wildlifeaid.org.uk