A GRANDMOTHER who donated her beloved pet parrots to a city farm has been left devastated after one was stolen and another died because it was missing its buddy.
Jeanette Oliver, of Grove Gardens, Dagenham, generously gave three parrots, Molly, Frankie, and Holly, to Newham City Farm in Beckton, in August this year.
The feathered friends were happily settled in their new home when a group of bird snatchers broke into the aviary on October 17 and made off with Molly, a white umbrella cockatoo.
As the birds had not spent a day apart during the last eight years the loss was too much for Frankie. The African Grey died within weeks. And now fears are growing for Holly, an Amazon Green parrot, who has become increasingly stressed since his death.
Mrs Oliver had cared for the parrots at her home for almost ten years, but after taking in two rescue dogs she felt the birds would be happier at the farm.
She said: “I’d been visiting them a lot to make sure they were OK. They were doing really well and the visitors at the farm loved them. I was so upset when I heard Molly had been stolen, and then to be told that Frankie had died was devastating.
“I’m now really worried about Holly – she has been fretting a lot.
“Parrots tend to have friends for life, so to lose a mate in this way can be really traumatic.”
Mrs Oliver hopes that if missing Molly is found, Holly could be saved.
The cockatoo is white with distinctive light blue rings around the eyes and a yellow colouring under her wings and head feathers. There is also a ring on her left leg.
Mrs Oliver said: “Someone might hear her as she’s very loud. She makes screaming noises and barks like a dog.”
A spokeswoman from the farm said three men in their 20s were seen acting suspiciously around the time of the theft. One of the men was later spotted clutching a rucksack to his chest.
She added: “This is a very selfish act. Molly is a fantastic visitor attraction and everyone is deeply upset by the theft.”
Anyone with information should contact the farm on (020) 7474 4960 or Plaistow Police.
