In short? Authorities say Molly the magpie will be returned to its original carers on the condition they make no commercial gain from the bird.
The couple, who have had the bird for four years, run a popular Instagram account and have signed a book deal.
What’s next? The environment department will work with the couple to ensure the magpie is properly cared for.
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The department said in a statement that independent expert veterinary advice had shown that Molly was highly habituated and may have developmental issues, meaning he can never be rehabilitated or returned to the wild.
Good news they’ve put the condition on in this particular instance, but you can guarantee other Instatockers who want their five minutes of fame will be out there collecting whatever they can get their selfish mitts on to try and be the next big thing.
Yeah, but hopefully this has at least made people aware of the law now, enough that this kind of thing will get people reported quickly.
I worry, though, that people might keep an animal secretly until it’s non-rehabitable, at which point they figure they can get away with doing the same thing these people have done.
I don’t know if it’s possible under the law, but swift seizure of the proceeds of crime would go a long way. Probably most people aren’t going to want to go to the hassle of getting licensed, so at least they will be black-and-white in the wrong and it’s doesn’t have to be investigated in detail whether they’re making profit.
I imagine (I’m not a lawyer) that it might be hard to delineate what exactly is commercial gain from the animal, and what is commercial gain from ‘expertise’ or ‘life experience’ of the keeper.
I’ll be interested to see where the book deal goes from here. I expect proceeds will be given to wildlife causes (upkeep of the bird is fair enough), and I’m hoping there will be a HEFTY chapter towards the end about how you should not do what they did.