Their authorities-ordered separation sparked outrage – now a magpie and a dog have been reunited in Australia. The Ministry of Environment in the state of Queensland issued a special permit on Monday.
Six weeks ago, authorities took the magpie from the couple, on whose property the two animals apparently lived happily together. This move sparked angry protests on the internet.
The couple, who live on the Gold Coast in eastern Australia, which is very popular among tourists, rescued the magpie as a nestling in 2020 and named it Molly. Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen regularly posted photos on their Instagram page of Molly “cuddling” with the family’s Staffordshire bull terrier named Peggy. Hundreds of thousands of people watched it.
Hooray, Molly is back home!
The Ministry of the Environment caused a shitstorm
But six weeks ago the couple had to hand the magpie over to the Ministry of the Environment. The decision was based on the fact that magpies and other protected wildlife can only be cared for and cared for by people who have the appropriate permit.
The authorities’ actions caused a storm of outrage. A petition on behalf of Molly and Peggy titled “Don’t destroy their four-year friendship” has been signed by more than 150,000 people.
The authorities relented
On Monday, authorities relented: They gave Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen special permission to take Molly. In return, the couple agreed not to make any financial profit from the images and to undergo training in wildlife care. The magpie is now “back home,” the two explained on Monday.
Source: Krone
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