Management at a wildlife park has announced it is taking drastic measures to deal with swearing parrots.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is facing a crisis of parrots who have started to squawk expletives.
The Boston wildlife park became a global sensation after five African greys were removed from display for swearing at visitors.
Now, chief executive at the park Steve Nichols is announcing a high risk change in strategy after three more parrots started to squawk expletives.
The five African grey parrots had to be removed from public view in 2020 after a swearing outburst
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The park had three more parrots speaking in expletives causing the change in tactics.
It is hoped they will be able to copy more appropriate vocabulary and noises from the remainder of the flock after reintroduction.
Nichols said: “Parrots are flock creatures. They need to be with other parrots. The bigger the flock, the happier they are.
“Even though they swear, the welfare of the birds has to come first. We could end up with 100 swearing parrots on our hands. Only time will tell.”
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The original five parrots, named Billy, Tyson, Eric, Jade and Elsie became a viral sensation. Nicols said have since become the park’s star attraction.
However, a warning about their expletive language has been placed on their enclosure.
Nichols said: “You never tire of being told to eff off by a parrot. You can’t help but laugh. Of course, visitors stand around the enclosure swearing, trying to get the parrots to copy them.
“Ultimately, I think the swearing will be diluted. People think parrots are loud birds but they talk quite quietly. I’m hoping, above the general noise of the flock, the swearing will be drowned out.”
The chief executive added that often swearing habits are hard to shake. However, he said he is hopeful other sounds can dilute the swearing.
He said: “Once it’s in their vocabulary, it’s usually there for good.
“We have about 30 birds who make the beeping sound that a reversing lorry makes.
“Hopefully, the rest will pick up on that and there will be less swearing.”
