A world-famous magpie has been handed over to authorities after shocking allegations that she was being ‘unlawfully detained’.
Molly became a global phenomenon after Juliette Wells, a blogger from Coomera in Queensland, started creating content highlighting the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between an Australian magpie and a pair of staff members, Peggy and Ruby.
The trio became famous, attracting two million followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and the blogger even published a book full of photos of the ‘unlikely companions’.
Fans are raving about the “very special” relationship between Molly, Peggy and Ruby, but registered wildlife rescuers soon began to wonder why Ms Wells allowed a native bird to interact with domestic dogs on camera.
Molly became a global phenomenon after Juliette Wells, a blogger from Coomera in Queensland, started creating content highlighting the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between an Australian magpie and a pair of staff members, Peggy and Ruby.
In Queensland, authorities do not allow such interactions as it could hinder the bird’s ability to be successfully released into the wild.
In a statement previously provided to Yahoo News AustraliaMrs Wells denied that the bird was being ‘kept’ in captivity.
‘We don’t ‘care’ for him the way people keep cockatoos or parrots in cages. Once he got better, we taught him how to forage for food in the garden, we taught him how to fly and how to be independent,” she said through a publicist.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Wells for further comment but received no response.
The trio became famous, attracting two million followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and the blogger even published a book full of photos of the ‘unlikely companions’.
The Queensland Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirmed that a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ on March 1.
“It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and unlawfully retained without DESI issuing a permit, license or authorization,” a department spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘All native animals in Queensland are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. To keep a native animal that comes from the wild, a person must have a permit, license or authority to lawfully possess the animal.’
In Queensland, animals that are sick, orphaned or injured can only be rescued and cared for by those who hold a rehabilitation permit and intend to release them back into the wild.
Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirmed that a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ on March 1
“Animals in rehabilitation should not interact with domestic animals due to the potential for exposure to stress and the risks of behavioral imprinting and disease transmission,” the spokesperson added.
‘Animals from the wild should remain wild.’
Ms Wells took Molly home in 2020, believing she had been abandoned by her parents.
She believes the magpie ‘looked very weak and not well at all’ but made a full recovery.
Mrs Wells was first asked to hand over the bird six months ago when authorities visited her home, but she was unable to capture the bird as it was perched in a tree.
Mrs Wells took Molly home in 2020, believing she had been abandoned by her parents
She has continued to share videos of Molly and her dogs on social media, despite Molly now being vomited, and recently posted the pair lounging on a dog bed.
DESI is currently focusing on finding a home for Molly, who can now no longer fly like a normal magpie would.
“Unfortunately, he is highly habituated to human contact and cannot be released back into the wild,” the spokesperson said.
‘A process is currently underway to have the magpie placed in a suitable location.’
Investigations are underway.