Two children in Gisborne, Australia, were walking home from school when they spotted something unusual in the brush by the roadside. What appeared at first to be a strange white blob turned out to be a beautiful sulphur-crested cockatoo, looking distressed and injured.
Curious and concerned, the kids got closer and quickly realized the bird needed help. They rushed home to inform their mother, who immediately contacted Wildlife Rescue and Rehab. Soon, the family was guiding rescuers back to the injured bird.
A Heartbreaking Scene
Maria Jane, the president of Wildlife Rescue and Rehab, arrived on the scene and was saddened by the sight. The cockatoo, too weak to fly, simply sat there, looking up at her.
“[The cockatoo] didn’t have enough strength to fly off, so it just sat there looking up at me,” Jane recounted.
Typically, wild birds are wary and often resist human help, but this cockatoo was unusually lethargic, a clear indication that something was seriously wrong.
The Rescue
Jane approached the bird carefully, placing a towel over its head before gently putting it into a rescue basket. She took the cockatoo home for the night and brought him to a veterinarian the next morning. The vet determined that the bird was malnourished and weak but, fortunately, in otherwise good condition.
Now, the cockatoo is staying with Jane, who is dedicated to nurturing him back to health. She hopes he will make a full recovery and be strong enough to return to his natural habitat soon.
A Hopeful Future
“[The cockatoo] will hopefully make a full recovery and be able to be released back into the wild,” Jane said.
Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick actions of the two children, this cockatoo is now on the path to recovery. Safe and cared for, he is regaining his strength, likely grateful for the day those kids noticed a white blob in the woods and decided to investigate.
