Parrot ruffles feathers by showing up uninvited at Seoul cafe
Parrot rescued at a cafe in Yeongdeungpo District in southwestern Seoul / Courtesy of Korea Animal Rescue and Management Association
By Ahn Seo-hyeon
Possibly endangered species rescued at coffee shop
Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station received an unusual report on Sunday of a parrot allegedly taking a sip from a customer's cup of coffee.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the culprit to be a medium-sized parrot weighing about 0.5 kilograms. The uninvited guest had flown in through a window and surprised patrons by darting around the outdoor seats.
Before the parrot was rescued by authorities, the coffee shop owner fed it some snacks while some customers pet it.
The bird is believed to be an endangered yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix), a species native to Mexico and northern Central America. The species is characterized by its bright yellow head, green plumage, social behavior and unique vocal abilities.
With only 4,000 left in the world, the yellow-headed amazon is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation prohibits private ownership.
However, it remains unclear whether the parrot is privately owned or from a nearby area. If the parrot's original home cannot be identified within the required period, the bird will be transferred to the CITES animal care facility at the Ministry of Environment’s National Institute of Ecology.
Police transferred the parrot to the Korea Animal Rescue and Management Association, adding that the rescue went smoothly since the bird was comfortable around people. The association confirmed that the parrot is in good health but noted that official species identification would take additional time as it must be verified by the Han River Basin Environmental Office.
Ahn Seo-hyeon is a Korea Times intern.