Parrots missing from London Zoo found behind Cambridgeshire family's garden

28 October 2024, 11:32 | Updated: 28 October 2024, 13:38

Two parrots that went missing from London Zoo have been found after being spotted 60 miles away near a family's back garden.

London Zoo said Lily and Margot, two blue-throated macaws, did not return to their enclosure on 21 October after flying freely as part of their daily routine.

An appeal was launched urging members of the public to report the location of the escaped parrots, with people told not to feed or approach them.

Six days later, zookeepers were able to track down the birds when a family in Buckden, Cambridgeshire, spotted them in the trees behind their garden.

The macaws flew away again before being tracked down to a field and public footpath in nearby Brampton.

When they arrived to collect the birds, Lily and Margot flew into the zookeeper's arms and were treated to pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and pecans.

The birds are said to be in good condition and are now in quarantine at the on-site animal hospital, where they will then rejoin their parents, Popeye and Ollie.

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London Zoo is home to four hyacinth macaws, the largest parrots in the world. The birds have deep blue feathers with distinctive yellow markings near their eyes.

Hyacinth macaws are indigenous to Brazil and can be heard up to a kilometre away.