A tinyfemale cockatoo named Hobby arrived at the Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary in Kansas in the US in September 2015. And she had almost no feathers left.When the volunteers took her in, Hobby was in a terrible state, stinkingof old cigarettes and garbage, reports The Dodo.Her neglectful owners hadn't taken proper care of her and in a fit of anxiety, Hobby began to pluck out her own feathers. Only the feathers on her head remained. The volunteers at the sanctuary took her under their wing straight away. And so Hobby became Javi, since"no living being should be someone's hobby", according to the sanctuary's Facebook page.
Source : @Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary
After a visit to the vet, Javi had the first bath of her entire life and was given fresh fruit by the volunteers.Just a month later, the parrot's sad statehad turned around. Her feathers slowly started to grow back, but her attitude has completely transformed. The sanctuary's founder Kail Marie explains to MNN:
Javi has just blossomed! From being a shy little bird who was afraid of anything new to an outgoing, confident cockatoo. This is because she is now always either with me or her friend Sassy [another parrot].
Source : @Sarah Forrest
Javi's story has caused quite a stir on the Internet and she has even received some tiny knitted jumpers. These colourful jumpers made from cotton socks aren't just for show: in fact, they are there to make sure Javi doesn't start pulling out her feathers again. Some have started to grow back, but only time will tell.For now, Javi is making the most of her new life by Sassy's side, in an environment which is actually suited to her after so many years of neglect. And she's particularly grateful to her saviours: according to aFacebook post, Javi revealed "I love you!"
Source : @Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary
Sadly, Javi is not alone. Exotic birds require a hugeinvestment of both time and attention to thrive. Keepinga bird at home involves socialising him properly and working hard to assure his wellbeing. Some birds may have a long life expectancy of up to even 70 years for some cockatoos. This means a longterm commitment which requires knowing a lot about the species and their needs.
Source : @Oliver Regueiro
Photographer Oliver Regueiro has taken a series of incredible photographs which highlight the sad reality of the damage caused by neglect and ignorance. What's worse is that some species arevictim of the illegal animal trafficking trade and destruction of their natural habitats, meaning that they are now facing extinction.
Source : @Oliver Regueiro
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates that macaws are in particular danger. And it's already too late for some of them: the Spix's macaw and the Glaucous macaw will probably never again by found in the wild.If you want to help Javi, you can make a donation to the Tallgrass Parrot Sanctuary here.
H/t: @The Dodo
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