Rare London Zoo Parrots Captured After Six Days of Freedom

Two critically endangered parrots from London Zoo, Lily and Margot, recently made headlines after disappearing for six days. The blue-throated macaws, part of a species native to South America and known for their vivid blue and yellow feathers, typically fly around the zoo but took an unexpected extended detour on October 21.

After a public appeal by the zoo, sightings of the parrots began to surface, eventually leading to their location over 60 miles away in Cambridgeshire. Residents in Buckden first spotted the colorful pair near a family’s garden, and shortly after, they were seen in a nearby field and along a public footpath in Brampton.

Once London Zoo staff arrived, Lily and Margot, aged two, seemed to recognize their keepers, reportedly flying directly into their arms. The birds were rewarded with treats like pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and pecans before being safely transported back to the zoo, where they are currently undergoing quarantine.

Zookeepers noted that while Lily and Margot often take minor flights around the zoo grounds, this was the first time they had ventured off zoo property entirely. Following their quarantine, the parrots will reunite with the other prisoners at London Zoo, home to over 10,000 animals.

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