The owner of a golden eagle is appealing for help from the public to locate him.

The 12-year-old bird of pray, named Kalin, went missing last Wednesday.

Owner John Nugent from Co Wicklow told Lunchtime Live the bird managed to get lose from his leash after he was fed.

"I'm hoping to find him back - I've been searching for the last five days everywhere for him.

"It's the first time it's ever happened to me - I have American bald eagle as well... and he's here the whole time with me for a couple of years, we've never had an issue that they've undone their leashes or taken off.

"I was training Kalin, trying to rehabilitate him to fly him free, and he's never flown free before in his entire life."

John said the real danger is for his bird's welfare.

"The bird has never hunted wild - it's never known to kill or do anything like that - so there's no danger for him killing animals".

'Kalin is looking for me'

He said he fears Kalin could get lost or caught in a tree.

"We reckon Kalin is now looking for me as much as I'm looking for Kalin".

He said the bird can go up to two weeks without food, but there are other concerns.

"I'm worried sick - I'm just worried about whether a farmer sees a golden eagle and he'd shoot it."

John described Kalin as "the size of a swan - his wingspan would be quite large, so you'd see him there straight away.

"What's very recognisable on Kalin would be two leather straps sticking out of his leg, almost like sticks.

"They're called jesses: where you catch the bird - where he lands on you - so you can hold the bird on your hand.

"Kalin is used to landing on posts, fences, sheds, airplanes - when we're here with her she'd be walking around and flying from place to place with us.

"She's not afraid of people, she's not afraid of animals and she's not afraid of cars or noise".

Anyone who has seen Kalin can contact John at 086 239 4417.