‘Don’t keep wild birds as pets’ – warns CROW bird enthusiast
CROW bird enthusiast, Carlyn Hattingh reminds residents that the 'best cage is an empty cage.'
THE Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s (CROW) local depot and bird enthusiast, Carlyn Hattingh is on a mission to make people understand the dangers posed when the public attempts to take in and raise wild birds.
With the August winds and onset of Spring around the corner, many baby birds are expected to be found after falling out of nests and losing their way.
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“I hope this information will stop people from keeping wild birds as pets,” said Carlyn. A recent case was that of a mynah bird which had previously been kept as a pet. When no longer wanted, the bird was dumped with the domestic worker.
“He had never left his tiny parrot cage and was fed the incorrect diet, which included white rice and cheese curls,” explained Carlyn. “This bird is still young and is already going blind from cataracts as he possibly has diabetes. It had never eaten an insect before and due to his poor diet, has some internal damage which one would never see except for the deterioration of the eyes.”
The bird enthusiast went on to explain that a simple pellet diet is not enough to keep wild birds alive in cages.
“This little bird has now lost the typical mynah character and spark,” said Carlyn. “Mynahs are highly social and energetic birds who need mental and physical stimulation as well as a specific diet, one low in iron and vitamin C.
This is the case with all wild birds. Every species has a very specific diet, with different needs compared to the next. To attempt to keep a wild bird as a pet is just not fair.”
Carlyn asks the public to hand in nestling birds to CROW in Yellowwood Park or call 031-462-1127 for more information.
Carlyn can be contacted locally by those who wish to find out more on 082-433-7251.
“The best cage is an empty cage,” she reminds residents, citing CROW’s motto.
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