A world-famous magpie has been handed over to authorities by a blogger amid allegations that she had been ‘kept unlawfully’.
Molly became a global phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells, from Coomera, Queensland, told the story online of the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between Molly the magpie and a pair of Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.
The trio shot to fame, attracting two million followers across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and starring in a book filled with photos of the unlikely companions, with fans gushing over the ‘very special’ relationship between the three animals.
But wildlife rescue organisations questioned why Ms Wells was taking a native n bird into her home to play with her 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 n magpie and a pair of staffies, Peggy and Ruby
And so Molly was seized on March 1, with Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirming that a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ to officials.
‘It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and kept unlawfully, with no permit, licence or authority being issued by DESI,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail .
Queensland legislation bans native wild animals from being domesticated because of the possible impact on wildlife.
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.
But Ms Wells denied the bird was being kept in captivity and insisted that Molly had been taken in by her family when the bird was apparently abandoned in 2020.
The trio shot to stardom, attracting two million followers across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and the blogger even published a book filled with photos of the ‘unlikely companions’
‘We don’t “care” for him in the way people have cockatoos or parrots in cages,’ her publicist told Yahoo News .
Molly was originally thought to be a female by Ms Wells, but is actually a male – the name stuck.
The publicist continued: ‘Once (Molly) was well enough, we taught him how to forage for food in the garden, we taught him to fly and be independent.’
Ms Wells first took Molly home in 2020, suspecting he had been abandoned by her parents.
She believes the magpie ‘looked really weak and not well at all’ but made a full recovery.
Ms Wells was first asked to surrender the bird six months ago when authorities visited her home but she was unable to capture the bird as it was in a tree.
She has continued sharing videos of Molly and her dogs on social media, despite Molly having now been surrendered, most recently posting a clip of the pair lounging on a dog bed.
Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirmed a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ on March 1
DESI is currently focused on finding a home for Molly, who now can’t fly like a normal magpie would.
‘Unfortunately, it has been highly habituated to human contact and is not capable of being released back into the wild,’ the spokesperson said.
‘A process is currently underway to have the magpie placed at a suitable facility.’
Investigations are ongoing.
‘Animals in rehabilitation must not associate with domestic animals due to the potential for them to be subjected to stress and the risks of behavioural imprinting and transmission of diseases,’ the government spokesperson added.
‘Animals from the wild, must stay wild.’
Ms Wells took Molly home in 2020, suspecting she had been abandoned by her parents