Zoo visitors engaged in a dispute regarding the vocal promotor birds.
In the heart of Lincolnshire on England's east coast, the watchful eyes of an unusual bunch have become a talking point among visitors at the local zoo. The five parrots, Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade, and Elsie, have been temporarily banished from the main exhibit, having found their newfound voice in a string of colorful language.
According to reports from bbc.com, these African Grey parrots, part of a large colony of 200, moved around in August and quickly picked up a repertoire of obscene phrases. Steve Nichols, the executive director of the zoo, admitted that while swearing parrots are not unheard of, having five doing it together was indeed a first for the zoo.
Nichols elaborated that the parrots appeared to have learned the off-color words during quarantine, not only bonding with each other but also honing their ability to sound like a rowdy crew from the wrong side of the tracks.
"It started with one, and they found it funny...the next thing we knew, it was like a concert of curse words," Nichols told Lincolnshire Live. "They'd swear, laugh, and it would just escalate. It was as if each one took turns, dancing in an endless cycle of cussing and laughter."
Interestingly, African Grey parrots, known for their remarkable ability to mimic human speech, picked up the swearing through a process known as mimicry. They likely learned the crude vocabulary from each other and previous exposure to such language.
Visitors' reactions played a significant part in reinforcing the parrots' behavior. The more laughter and shock the parrots received, the more they seemed to enjoy swearing, thinking it was attention they were getting.
Concerned about the inappropriateness of the situation, especially given the families with children that the zoo caters to, the decision was made to separate the profane parrot posse. For now, they reside in a quieter area, where they can regroup and perhaps learn some more fitting words to add to their vocabulary.
- Elsie, one of the parrots at the Lincolnshire zoo, was temporarily relocated after she and four others were found uttering inappropriate language.
- Surprisingly, the African Grey parrots, including Elsie, picked up a repertoire of swearing during quarantine, a behavior that is quite unusual for them.
- Social-media platforms were abuzz with the news of the swearing parrots from the Lincolnshire zoo, causing quite an entertainment spectacle.
- With the zoo catering to many families with children, the zoo authorities decided to move Elsie and her friends to a quieter area, where they can learn more suitable words to add to their vocabulary.
