Hundreds of parrots, from macaws to cockatoos, currently living at a Vancouver Island sanctuary are now facing eviction.
“The property owner has decided he no longer wants to be involved with the parrot refuge, so he’s given us, as a volunteer group, until Aug. 1 to remove all of the birds,” said said John Creviston, World Parrot Refuge Interim Manager.
The news comes just a few months after the death of the facility’s founder, Wendy Huntbatch.
WATCH: Parrot refuge in Coombs unravels following death of owner. Kylie Staton reports.
The animal rights activist opened the World Parrot Refuge more than 10 years ago with the goal of stopping the practice of importing the birds to Canada, while educating the public on the kind of care they require as pets.
But with just over a month before the doors are closed for good, a new plan is in place.
“So the first step we’re doing is reuniting birds with former families, human families, if they wish that to happen,” said Creviston. “The second step is to look at adopting out those that really want interaction with people.”
READ MORE: SPCA orders vet care be given to some birds at World Parrot Refuge
So far, 200 of the roughly 600 birds have now been relocated. Many are set to go to the former SPCA building, now owned by the City of Nanaimo.
The branch manager, Leon Davis, said they are happy the old shelter is going to have one last opportunity to shelter some animals in need.
It will be another week before the facility is ready to house the birds.
The Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary will be assisting with the move and running the day-to-day operations, while looking for families to provide a forever home.
“We need people that are willing to spend time and give these birds attention,” said Matthew Spate from Greyhaven.
-With files from Kylie Stanton
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