A critically-endangered hen noticed in an Isle of Wight backyard isn’t wild and most probably escaped from a personal enclosure, a wildlife professional has mentioned.
On Friday morning (April 19), Islander Carrie Hampton acquired a shock when a “pretty” white hen swooped down into her backyard.
Having by no means seen one earlier than, Carrie searched Google and recognized it as a Bali myna — a species native to Indonesia.
The hen is so uncommon that in 2020, it was estimated there have been solely round 50 adults nonetheless within the wild.
Carrie mentioned this specific hen had a hoop round its leg, suggesting it was not wild.
Jim Baldwin, from the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society, informed the County Press: “It is a Bali myna which has escaped from both a personal assortment or maybe someplace like Amazon World.
“You can see the kind of ring on its leg that it reveals it’s a caged hen, not a wild one.”
Amazon World additionally has Bali myna however Carrie says the zoo has informed her all of its birds are accounted for.
She mentioned she additionally notified Sandown’s Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and Monkey Haven.
She mentioned: “It was a beautiful factor to see and had a hoop on its leg, however not fairly tame sufficient to get nearer than about 5 to 6 toes away.
“I used to be fearful that it will entice consideration from magpies and corvids because it has a really loud name.”
Carrie mentioned the hen was there for about 40 minutes earlier than flying off.
