Mei Mei, a parakeet who was close to freezing to death in New York City’s Central Park, is now safe in a sanctuary.
For ten weeks, Mei Mei was seen flying through Central Park, vulnerable to predators and the elements. She survived by joining a flock of sparrows, but she would have certainly died in New York’s brutal winter if she hadn’t been saved in time. Rescuers JP and Sean spent weeks tracking Mei Mei in Central and Morningside Parks before catching her with the help of other birders and park-goers in October.
We don’t know whether Mei Mei was abandoned or escaped, but she was likely born in a bird mill, trapped in a small, dirty cage with thousands of other parrots. From there, she would have been shipped hundreds of miles to a pet store and then confined to a small cage.
Thankfully, Mei Mei is now safe and loved at Foster Parrots, one of the country’s premiere sanctuaries. For the first time in her life, she has the opportunity to flock with other parrots, forage, and play.
While Mei Mei will live the rest of her life in peace and tranquility, so many other parrots are not as fortunate. Parakeets like Mei Mei are among the most exploited parrots in the US pet industry, bred in cruel breeding mills and then sold like trinkets in pet stores. We’re working to end the sale of birds in pet stores by pressuring major corporations to stop selling animals and passing robust laws that prohibit the retail sale of birds. That’s why we need you to take action.
Here’s how you can help more parrots like Mei Mei: