Molly the magpie has been reunited with her best friend Peggy the dog - but their heartfelt reunion comes with a catch.
People across Australia have been captivated in recent weeks about the story of Molly the magpie who was surrendered to the state government on March 1.
Molly's adoptive family, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen from the Gold Coast have over 800,000 Instagram followers dedicated to the bird.
What really caught people's attention was Molly's adorable friendship with Peggy, a staffy dog owned by the Gold Coast couple.
Molly entered the family's life in 2020 when they rescued her as a nestling, and she soon struck up an unlikely relationship with the family dog.
However, the magpie was later surrendered to the state government over fears that the family was unable to properly care for her.
The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation has now revealed that Molly can be reunited with her adoptive family, provided they adhere to some strict rules.
"Molly’s return hinges on the family applying for a license and agreeing with a range of conditions that will ensure the best outcome for the animal’s ongoing health and wellbeing," a spokesperson said.
The conditions include:
- No ongoing commercial gain from the bird or its image.
- Undertaking wildlife carer training.
- Advocating public education to encourage people to appropriately care for native wildlife and acknowledging the specialist skills required to care for and rehabilitate wildlife.
- Ongoing engagement with DESI to ensure the bird is receiving adequate care and enrichment.
The spokesperson continued to state that Molly will be reunited with her family when they can prove that they can adhere to the above conditions.
In Queensland, magpies and other wildlife, safeguarded by the Nature Conservation Act 1992, are exclusively entrusted to licensed carers who have demonstrated their proficiency to the department in providing specialized care.
The decision to rehome Molly was guided by an independent veterinary expert, who concluded that the bird's extensive habituation and potential developmental challenges rendered her unsuitable for rehabilitation or release into the wild.
The owners conveyed their joy on Thursday morning via an Instagram update, expressing gratitude to Queensland Premier Steven Miles for his compassionate engagement with their situation.
They pledged to coordinate with the department to finalize the steps required to reunite with Molly, expressing the enduring emotional void since her surrender to the authorities and reflecting on the global attention their situation has gained.
Acknowledging their newfound status as subjects of memes, interview questions, and global conversation, the owners have been the victims of harassment, defamation, and bullying.
Despite these challenges, they expressed gratitude to the supportive community and credited their advocacy for catalyzing efforts to bring Molly home.
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