RSPCA

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?…at a greengrocers in Crawley

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?…at a greengrocers in Crawley

RSPCA reunited escaped parrot with his owners after he stops off for his five a day

An escaped parrot has been reunited with his owners after he flew into a Crawley greengrocers for an early morning snack.

Romeo, a red lory, disappeared after he flew off from his home at Tilgate Nature Park last Tuesday (19.8.14). However, the lure of fresh fruit proved too much for the feathered fugitive, who was soon the star attraction at a town centre fruit and veg shop.

Naveen Kumar called the RSPCA after he spotted Romeo tucking into a slice of watermelon in the shopfront of Taj the Grocer, on Haslett Avenue, shortly after 8.30am on Thursday morning (21.8.14).

It wasn’t long before the lure of fresh fruit proved too much for the colourful bird and he soon made his way further into the shop, prompting the call to the RSPCA.

Naveen said: “I first noticed him because he is such a bright colour and I’d never seen a bird like it before.

“He started flying around the shop though so that is when I thought I should call the RSPCA to come and catch him.

“Everybody in the shop really liked him and lots of our customers were filming him and taking pictures.”

Inspector Andrew Kirby arrived at the shop soon after and quickly managed to catch Romeo using a small net, before he took him to the RSPCA animal centre in Patcham, near Brighton.

“He seemed to take a shine to all the fruit at the shop, but I think he must have been quite tired. Although he was only a few miles from where he escaped, that is quite a long way for a bird not used to flying such distances.

“Thankfully he was easy to catch and I’m just pleased that his owners have come forward and been reunited with him,” said inspector Kirby.

Romeo has now been reunited with the team at Tilgate Nature Park.

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Ends

Notes to editors

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RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288  Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 07825 158490
Email: press@rspca.org.uk  Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals registered charity no: 219099 Registered office: RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 9RS