Desperate attraction to Aussies after unwell magpie maintained unlawfully for a month passes away

Australians are as soon as extra being suggested versus sustaining indigenous wild animals as animals, after a considerably sick magpie handed away complying with a month-long stay in a private dwelling.

Wildlife volunteers from Perth’s Native Animal Rescue claimed the chook obtained right here in “a terrible state” late final month, experiencing a severe scenario of throat-worm– a shortly treatable drawback if captured early.

The magpie was not capable of take a breath or ingest successfully and had truly sustained weeks of struggling, with its tail caked in feces. Speaking to Yahoo News, the rescue group claimed it confirmed up those who maintained the chook had truly been “trying to rehab it” nevertheless finally triggered much more harm.

“If it had received proper treatment, it could have been released instead of developing severe throat-worm, which led to a septic mouth,” a spokesperson knowledgeable Yahoo.

They claimed the case acts as yet another plain pointer: Native pets aren’t animals, and well-meaning therapies can have harmful results.

“Wildlife mask their stress levels and pain,” the spokesperson claimed. “If you discover an injured or orphaned animal, it must be assessed by a veterinarian to make sure it will get the suitable therapy and a second likelihood within the wild.

“If you discovered a pet or pet cat on the side of the roadway, you would not take it home and look after it on your own– you would certainly take it to a veterinarian. Please do the very same for our wild animals.”

The significance of reporting injured wildlife

Notifying the proper wildlife authorities is essential for a number of causes. Licensed rescuers and veterinarians have the experience to supply correct care, guaranteeing the animal will get one of the best likelihood at survival and rehabilitation.

Many native species have particular dietary and medical wants that untrained people could not recognise, and improper care can result in additional struggling and even demise.

Additionally, wildlife professionals can decide whether or not an animal wants medical therapy, rehabilitation, or humane euthanasia to stop extended struggling.

In some circumstances, retaining native animals — even with good intentions — is against the law and may result in fines.

The rising development of retaining magpies as pets

The difficulty gained international consideration in 2024 when Gold Coast couple Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen made headlines for retaining a magpie they named Molly.

After claiming they’d rescued the chook as a chick, the pair amassed an enormous social media following by documenting its bond with their canine, Peggy.

Queensland’s Environment Department later confiscated Molly, sparking public outcry. While the chook was finally returned to the couple beneath particular licensing, animal advocates argued that Molly ought to by no means have been saved as a pet within the first place.

They predicted comparable incidents would possibly emerge — fears that now seem to have been realised.

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caas-jump-link-heading”>Gold Coast couple Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen made headlines final yr for retaining a magpie they named Molly. Source: Peggyandmolly

Wildlife shelters final yr reported a surge in illegally saved magpies. One WA-based rescue centre revealed it had acquired ” the-importance-of-reporting-injured-wildlife” of surrendered magpies in simply 12 months.

An analogous spike in intakes was additionally seen after the discharge of Penguin Bloom, a movie starring Naomi Watts that instructed the true story of an injured girl rescuing a local magpie.

While inspiring, such tales can mislead the general public into considering wild animals could be saved as pets — when, in actuality, they want professional care and rehabilitation.

Ordinarily, wildlife should be surrendered to a licensed care facility inside 72 hours of rescue. As of February 2025, Molly the magpie stays with Wells and Mortensen, a DETSI spokeswoman confirmed to Yahoo News.

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