A cockatoo affectionately named Mickey has been freed after a month trapped inside a Sydney shopping centre.
Mickey had become a social media star after taking up a perch inside Coles at Macarthur Square in Sydney’s south-west and helping himself to the buffet on offer in the supermarket.
Wildlife rescue organisation WIRES said there was a small hiccup they had to get around to be able to retrieve the feathered friend.
“The issue is the ceiling is too high to catch him with a net, and if he’s hit with a tranquilliser he’ll die when he hits the ground,” a WIRE spokesperson told A Current Affair.
Enter Campbelltown local Ravi Wasan from the volunteer-run organisation Sydney Wildlife Rescue.
Wasan, who is the director of Feathered Friends, brought his own licenced cockatoo to assist with luring the wild bird down to safety on Tuesday.
Footage of the protracted rescue shows Wasan trying to gain Mickey’s trust with food and his own cockatoo nearby as reassurance.
It appeared to take some time before Mickey was confident enough to investigate food that had been left in an open cage.
As Mickey slowly edged further into the cage, Wasan was nearby and tried to appear like he was taking no notice – and when finally the bird was far enough in, Wasan launched.
With the cage closed and Mickey startled by the ordeal but safely captured, those watching the tense rescue applauded Wasan, who looked relieved.
“I’m delighted that Mickey the cockatoo has been safely captured by wildlife rescuers after spending way too long in Macarthur Square,” Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said.
“Mickey is being assessed by experts. We hope Mickey will be flying free by [Wednesday].
“Thank you to everyone who rallied to help Mickey – including Ravi from Sydney Wildlife Rescue, WIRES, Coles and the team at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.”
Greg Warren, the member for Campbelltown, echoed the environment minister’s sentiments.
“I really appreciate the diligence shown to get the job done, particularly those who volunteered as part of local wildlife rescue groups,” Warren said.
“I am looking forward to seeing Mickey back in the wild back where he belongs.”
