Rupert the Parrot

[birdlady49]

I don't know if this is an old documentary but I saw it on Animal Planet this morning in Wild Rescues. It'll be aired again on Thursday morning (at least here in Colorado!)

Rupert is an African Grey whose middle-of-the-night squawking awoke his caregiver as the house was totally engulfed in fire. She grabbed the bird and tried to escape but found the fire had her trapped in her second story bedroom. After a few minutes, Rupert went limp and she thought he was dead. She wrapped him in a towel and placed him in the bathtub, with the assumption that she would have to bury him later.

In the meantime, she threw her two dogs out the bedroom window, then climbed out and down. (Yes, the dogs survived.)

The next day, she returned to her burnt out house and saw that the house had caved into her bathroom. She was too distressed to go into the bathroom, so she asked her friends to do so and retrieve Rupert's body that was now buried under a lot of debris.

Rupert was alive and bit the sh*t out of her friend but was in very bad shape.

Meanwhile, news of the fire had hit the airwaves and the news was seen by an avian vet who offered to help. Rupert was rushed in. But the vet determined, miserably, that Rupert had aspergillosis from smoke inhalation. He didn't think he would survive the night. Nonetheless he aggressively treated Rupert.

After a few weeks of intensive care, xrays revealed that the aspergillosis was gone and Rupert's respiration was normal. At the same time, the vet noticed ovaries. So Rupert, of course, was a female!

Rupert is still alive and well and is back with his errrr her loving owner.

Now that you know the happy ending, you can watch this documentary on Animal Planet without stressing out for this wonderful African Grey.

[Lisa B]

I always wondered about Rupert updates.....did it say how she was doing with the long term effects?

[birdlady49]

No. But maybe you can google it and update us!

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by birdlady49

No. But maybe you can google it and update us!

lol...ok..ya twisted my arm....

[Lisa B]

nope..couldnt find any updates.......

[birdlady49]

That's a GOOD sign!