A world-famous magpie has been handed over to authorities by a blogger amid allegations that she had been ‘stored unlawfully’.
Molly grew to become a worldwide phenomenon when wildlife fanatic Juliette Wells, from Coomera, Queensland, advised the story on-line of the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between Molly the magpie and a pair of Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.
The trio shot to fame, attracting two million followers throughout Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and starring in a e book full of photographs of the unlikely companions, with followers gushing over the ‘very particular’ relationship between the three animals.
But wildlife rescue organisations questioned why Ms Wells was taking a local Australian fowl into her home to play together with her dogs on digital camera.
Molly grew to become a worldwide phenomenon after Juliette Wells, a blogger from Coomera in Queensland , began creating content material highlighting the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between an Australian magpie and a pair of staffies, Peggy and Ruby
And so Molly was seized on March 1, with Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirming {that a} magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ to officers.
‘It is alleged that the fowl was taken from the wild and stored unlawfully, with no allow, licence or authority being issued by DESI,’ a spokesman advised Daily Mail Australia.
Queensland laws bans native wild animals from being domesticated due to the attainable influence on wildlife.
Animals which are sick, orphaned or injured can solely be rescued and cared for by those that maintain a rehabilitation allow and intend to launch them again into the wild.
But Ms Wells denied the fowl was being stored in captivity and insisted that Molly had been taken in by her household when the fowl was apparently deserted in 2020.
The trio shot to stardom, attracting two million followers throughout Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and the blogger even revealed a e book full of photographs of the ‘unlikely companions’
‘We do not “care” for him in the best way individuals have cockatoos or parrots in cages,’ her publicist advised Yahoo News Australia.
Molly was initially considered a feminine by Ms Wells, however is definitely a male – the title caught.
The publicist continued: ‘Once (Molly) was nicely sufficient, we taught him the best way to forage for meals within the backyard, we taught him to fly and be unbiased.’
Ms Wells first took Molly home in 2020, suspecting he had been deserted by her mother and father.
She believes the magpie ‘seemed actually weak and never nicely in any respect’ however made a full restoration.
Ms Wells was first requested to give up the fowl six months in the past when authorities visited her home however she was unable to seize the fowl because it was in a tree.
She has continued sharing movies of Molly and her dogs on social media, regardless of Molly having now been surrendered, most not too long ago posting a clip of the pair lounging on a canine mattress.
Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirmed a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ on March 1
DESI is at present targeted on discovering a home for Molly, who now can’t fly like a standard magpie would.
‘Unfortunately, it has been extremely habituated to human contact and isn’t able to being launched again into the wild,’ the spokesperson mentioned.
‘A course of is at present underway to have the magpie placed at an appropriate facility.’
Investigations are ongoing.
‘Animals in rehabilitation should not affiliate with home animals as a result of potential for them to be subjected to emphasize and the dangers of behavioural imprinting and transmission of ailments,’ the federal government spokesperson added.
‘Animals from the wild, should keep wild.’
Ms Wells took Molly home in 2020, suspecting she had been deserted by her mother and father
