Blue-throated macaws Lily and Margaret have been returned safely to their London Zoo home after escaping last week, sparking a flurry of sightings from members of the public
A pair of critically-endangered parrots who escaped their London Zoo home have been safely rescued, after they were found more than 60 miles away.
Lily and Margot, two blue-throated macaws, flew away on October 21 while flying freely as part of their daily routine. Several people shared tip-offs as they spotted the fugitive pair, both aged around two.
A family in Buckden, Cambridgeshire, spotted the birds in the trees behind their garden, but the parrots fled before London Zoo’s birdkeepers arrived. Luckily, they were tracked to a field and public footpath in Brampton.
When the keepers arrived, Lily and Margot immediately flew into the arms of the zoo’s experts and are safely home. After Sunday’s rescue the two were treated to pumpkin seeds, walnuts and pecans – some of their favourite foods – and transported back to the zoo.
They are said to be in good condition and are now in quarantine at the on-site animal hospital, after which they will rejoin their parents, Popeye and Ollie. Last week, a spokesman for the zoo said: “They’ve previously taken detours into the zoo’s trees, but this time they ventured further afield. Our expert bird team is working diligently to find them.
“They’ve been combing the area, contacting neighbours and community groups. The macaws are likely to stay close together and remain high up in trees, but they will come down to the ground to forage for food which is when people are likely to spot them.
“They eat all sorts of things like sunflower seeds and nuts but they will scavenge for anything like fallen seeds. London is such a noisy city so finding their way back through the calls of other birds is much more difficult, which is why we’re expanding the search. We are not encouraging people to pet and feed them. If anyone spots them, send a photo and precise location to the zoo, using the What3Words app.”
Last month, a heartbroken family offered a reward after their music-loving parrot went missing. Django, a 10-year-old Galah parrot, escaped from his home on August 3 – with terrified owners Helen and Craig Wilson unable to find the bird for over five weeks.
The bird escaped after being startled by a loud noise while owner Craig moved him from his indoor enclosure to his outdoor enclosure in their home in Wigton. Helen, 41, Craig, 39, and their three children have had Django for 10 years, describing him as “a huge part of the family ” with a big personality.
