Alonzo
05-21-2008, 05:08 PM
TOKYO (AFP) — A stray parrot was reunited with its owner in Japan after repeating his name and address at the local veterinary clinic that took it in, police said Wednesday.
Police captured the red-tailed African Grey parrot earlier this month after a woman called to say it was sitting on a fence in her backyard outside Tokyo, a Chiba police official said.
Police then handed the parrot over to a local animal clinic to take care of it.
In the beginning the parrot kept greeting people or singing popular children's songs, the officer said.
"Only 10 days after it was found did it start repeating a name and a street address," he added.
Police then matched the name with its owner, who was reunited with his parrot earlier this week.
"I'm glad I had taught him my address and name," the Yomiuri daily quoted him as saying.
The African Grey parrot is considered one of the most intelligent birds. Experts say it has the cognitive ability of a six-year-old.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9P0sfVs5KMc1g6wfRBAp89_0a5g
He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.
"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.
"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.
The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.
But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.
"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/21/lost.parrot.ap/index.html
Police captured the red-tailed African Grey parrot earlier this month after a woman called to say it was sitting on a fence in her backyard outside Tokyo, a Chiba police official said.
Police then handed the parrot over to a local animal clinic to take care of it.
In the beginning the parrot kept greeting people or singing popular children's songs, the officer said.
"Only 10 days after it was found did it start repeating a name and a street address," he added.
Police then matched the name with its owner, who was reunited with his parrot earlier this week.
"I'm glad I had taught him my address and name," the Yomiuri daily quoted him as saying.
The African Grey parrot is considered one of the most intelligent birds. Experts say it has the cognitive ability of a six-year-old.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9P0sfVs5KMc1g6wfRBAp89_0a5g
He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.
"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.
"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.
The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.
But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.
"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/21/lost.parrot.ap/index.html