Caretakers of Magpie Molly have revealed they could soon have the world-famous bird back home, weeks after it was captured by gamekeepers.
Gold Coast couple Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen rescued and adopted Molly (who was initially thought to be a female) in 2020 after she fell from her nest.
Molly quickly became close friends with the couple’s Staffordshire bull terriers, Peggy and Ruby, which Wells began documenting on social media, showing the trio hugging, playing together and the magpie barking like a puppy.
After gaining more than 2 million online followers, several complaints were made to Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), as it is illegal in the state to conserve native wildlife without a permit.
The teary-eyed couple were forced to hand Molly over to authorities on March 1.
But on Friday the couple revealed that DESI agreed to a “face-to-face” meeting with them to discuss options for Molly’s return.
Juliette Wells (pictured) and Reece Mortensen could soon have their love Molly back, as they revealed on Friday that DESI bosses are keen to meet them.
Keepers of magpie Molly, who became world famous in recent weeks after she was taken away by Queensland wildlife officers, shared good news on Tuesday. Molly is pictured with Juliette Wells and Staffordshire bull terrier Peggy.
“We have received an update,” the couple wrote on Friday.
‘Today we spoke with the heads of DESI
‘The department is moving forward and trying to establish the legal frameworks for a positive solution.
‘We have a face-to-face meeting with the department heads to try to determine the best path forward for Molly.
‘We are confident that with the right training, support and licensing, we can achieve this.
“We need to continue moving forward together.”
The couple then asked their thousands of followers to keep up the pressure by emailing DESI “in a big way” asking for the birds’ return.
The couple had not previously seen Molly nor had any information about his well-being since he was abducted.
But on Tuesday, the couple posted on social media saying they received “a long-awaited phone call from someone who works closely with the CEO of DESI.”
The breakthrough came after the story made international headlines, prompting Queensland Premier Steven Miles to get involved.
“To say we are relieved is an understatement,” the couple wrote, after being assured that Molly was safe and sound.
“We were told he was healthy, happy and in good spirits (but) we were not told his location to protect his safety.”
Last Thursday, Miles said DESI “stands ready” to train the couple so Molly can legally return to them.
Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen said they were “not given too many details but we were assured that DESI is currently looking at options to proceed with what the Prime Minister had suggested”.
‘The legality of the situation is not easy to solve and it is a process through legal frameworks.
“We will contact you again at the end of the week with the process and updates.”
The couple said they had been unable to obtain proper wildlife care permits due to their social media presence, with more than 785,000 followers on Instagram.
They added that it had been a stressful time for them and their dogs, who are not sure why their friend no longer flies around the house and plays with them.
“Every time they hear birds in the backyard, they run out to see if it’s Molly,” Mrs. Wells said. “Peggy is clingy too and she’s depressed.”
Molly the magpie is pictured with her best friends Peggy and Ruby, who are Staffordshire bull terriers.
Molly became a global phenomenon after Wells, a blogger from Coomera in Queensland, began creating content highlighting the unlikely “cross-species friendship” between an Australian magpie and her pair of employees.
Molly’s seizure sparked outrage on social media, with a petition calling for the bird to be returned to its Gold Coast home.
Miles backed the family, saying he was “very interested in what is best for the animal and if the department can work with the family to reunite them in a way that is legal, I would support them.”
“I think sometimes common sense needs to prevail.”
Mr Mortensen said: “We don’t definitively know if we are going to get it back, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
DESI said it was working with the family to achieve the best outcome for Molly.
“The department has been in contact with the couple to assure them that Molly is well cared for and that options for the bird’s future care are being examined,” a DESI spokesperson said.
“Our priority is the continued well-being of the magpie, and the bird is safe, undergoing rehabilitation and has full access to veterinary care.”
Wells brought Molly home in 2020, suspecting that she had been abandoned by her parents.