The couple behind an initiative to reunite magpie Molly with her family have warned that scammers are posting fake crowdfunding pages as they try to cash in on people’s goodwill.
Molly became a global phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells and her partner Reese Mortenson documented the unlikely “interspecies friendship” between the bird and its mate. Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.
Videos of the unusual animal trio and their cute antics amassed more than two million followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
But Mrs. Wells and Mr. Mortenson, who live in Coomera, in the Golden Coast, They were heartbroken on March 1 when authorities detained Molly over accusations that the bird was “illegally kept.”
The couple’s final message to their followers amid the fight for Molly’s return warns them ‘do not donate’ to ‘any fundraiser that asks for money’ linked to their cause.
“This is not us,” they said.
Molly the magpie became a global phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells and her partner Reese Mortenson documented the unlikely “interspecies friendship” between the bird and her Staffordshire terrier pair, Peggy and Ruby (pictured together).
Wells and Mortenson, who live in Coomera on the northern Gold Coast, were left heartbroken on March 1 when authorities detained Molly over allegations the bird was being “illegally kept”.
The couple also asked that Molly’s fans not “spread hate or fear” toward the “small group of people” whose complaints resulted in the government arresting Molly.
“I know one person who made a mistake by putting his name in one of the (news) articles and he fears for his safety,” Ms. Wells said.
Queensland Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) officials were concerned the couple did not have permission to keep the bird they claimed belongs in the wild.
Now Queensland Premier Steven Miles has waded into the fray amid a public outcry and thrown his support behind an emotional transspecies meeting.
“The environment department is willing to train Molly’s parents to be wildlife keepers, to get that certification, so that Molly can be reunited with the family,” Premier Miles said Thursday.
Miles said he wanted authorities to help the family obtain a permit and rejected suggestions that the decision would set a bad precedent.
“What interests me most here is what is best for that animal, and if the department can work with the family to reunite them in a way that is legal, I would support that,” he added.
“I think sometimes common sense should prevail, and in this case, ensuring they can legally care for Molly is the best outcome for Molly.
“I think if we look at history, it is possible to achieve a better result.” I don’t want any of the rules to be broken, but there has to be a way within the rules to see Molly live a happy life with her family.
On Wednesday night, Wells and Mortensen said they were concerned about Molly’s well-being in government captivity.
‘We have had Molly around us and the dogs for many years. And not having him nearby: the house is very quiet. “We miss him very much,” Mrs Wells said.
‘I actually don’t know where Molly is. I don’t know if she’s doing well.’
In a statement Wednesday night, a DESI spokesperson said the department shared a “community interest” in ensuring Molly was well cared for.
Now Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) has joined the fray and thrown his support behind an emotional meeting.
“The department shares the community’s desire to ensure that Molly receives the most appropriate care in the future,” the spokesperson added.
A petition to return Molly to the family has garnered almost 60,000 signatures.
The pair claim they rescued Molly as a chick after she fell from her nest in 2020.
Originally, Mrs. Wells thought Molly was a woman, but she is actually a man and the name stuck.
Videos of Molly playing with the couple’s two Staffies soon gained traction online and developed a loyal fan base.
“Juliette is passionate about photography and posted some photos of Molly having fun with the dogs, but we never expected this to go viral,” Mortenson previously said.
Wells brought Molly home in 2020, suspecting that she had been abandoned by her parents.
The couple enjoy the view from their home in Coomera before DESI officers captured Molly.
But the couple “voluntarily surrendered” Molly to DESI on March 1.
Queensland legislation prohibits the domestication of native wild animals due to the potential impact on wildlife.
Sick, orphaned or injured animals can only be rescued and cared for by those who have a rehabilitation permit and intend to return them to the wild.
However, the couple claim that they did not care for Molly in the same way a pet owner would care for a cockatoo or parrot, insisting instead that the bird is free to fly and search for food.
Wells was first asked to hand Molly over six months ago when authorities visited her home, but she was unable to capture the bird because it was in a tree.
Previously, DESI said that Molly couldn’t fly like a normal magpie.
“Unfortunately, he is very habituated to human contact and is not capable of being returned to the wild,” a DESI spokesperson said.
However, not everyone is in favor of Molly’s return.
A wildlife keeper, who asked to remain anonymous, told 7NEWS.com.au the magpie “should not be returned” to its home despite a huge online push for the reunion.
Another keeper said there were strict laws they had to follow and that their status as a keeper didn’t even guarantee their right to own an animal.
“At the end of the day, if one person is allowed to do this, what’s stopping all the other Toms, Dicks and Harrys from having a magpie, a joey or a kangaroo hopping around in their backyard as a pet?” the caretaker said. to the publication.
Wildlife keepers who oppose the move to reunite Molly are reportedly receiving death threats and abusive comments.