Zoo recovers missing macaw following appeal

A large green parrot that went missing from a Stourbridge zoo has been found about 30 miles (48.3km) away following an urgent call for help to locate her.

Fern, a macaw, is one of the free fliers at Wild Zoological Park - but did not return after an overnight flight earlier this week.

The bird, which has a large red patch above its beak, was spotted in Shropshire and eventually recovered in Craven Arms.

Owner Zachary Hollinshead thanked his head keeper for putting "hours into her safe recovery" and a couple who picked him up when his van "burst into flames" on the way to collect Fern.

Coincidentally, the couple's last name was Parrot, he revealed.

"Fern is now back with her sister here at Wild Zoological Park," he said, adding she would now have "a few days to chill out".

He previously told the BBC that Fern, who is blind in one eye, was taken high by thermals linked to warm weather.

In his appeal, he explained Fern and her sister Willow were frequent visitors to Claverley and surrounding areas.

Willow had returned after a flight over Claverley but Fern did not, he said.

While the bird was "used to being free and out and about", keepers were concerned about the effect of heat and lack of water on her.

People were also warned not to touch the bird to avoid scaring her off.

Recalling the events leading up to Fern's disappearance, he added: "She took off as usual with her sister. They're both used to being free and out and about. They fly every day.

"She's blind in one eye and can't cope well on her own without her sister as a guide."

He thanked everyone who helped spread the word, saying it was the reason the macaw was "safely home".

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