Wildlife fans are mourning the loss of owl Bomber, who highlighted the strength of nature’s parenting instinct. Stuart Minting reports.

A beloved wild tawny owl whose efforts to raise surrogate chicks saw him become a worldwide sensation has disappeared from his long-time home.

Bomber, whose nest has been livestreamed by Yorkshire Wolds wildlife artist and filmmaker Robert E Fuller, was confirmed missing this week.

While Bomber is at least 18 years old, the oldest known wild tawny owl was 23 years old, although most are understood to only live four or five years.