A BABY bird’s fight for life has touched the hearts of animal-lovers in South East Cornwall.

And Boo Boo the eagle owl even has a new best friend to help her in her battle against a rare condition - her giant teddy bear.

The nine-week-old has become inseparable from her cuddly toy at her home in the animal sanctuary at Hendra Farm, Talland.

‘Because we’ve had to care for her she’s become very socialised and gets quite distressed if she’s left on her own,’ said Senara Collings of Hendra Farm.

‘So we gave her the bear to keep her company and now she won’t be separated from it.’

Boo Boo developed serious deformities in her legs at four weeks old and Pelyn Vets have diagnosed an extremely rare genetic disorder.

Splints have been tried to correct the problem, and Senara said: ‘We’re all desperately trying to find a way to save her.

’She’ll never be right and will always need to have a custom-made place and be cared for, but we have to give her a chance and we may discover more about this condition in treating her.’

But vets’ bills are now mounting up and Senara has launched The Boo Boo Fund to raise £1,500 to help.

Hendra Farm will also be taking its popular Reptile and Raptor Roadshow to the Quayside Centre, West Looe, on August 18 from 11am for a fund-raising day for Boo Boo. Owls, reptiles, mammals and alpacas will all be there to meet visitors, and entry is by donation to the fund.

The Just Giving page can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/booboosfund