Cockatoo in Bird Paradise Bites Teenager’s Ear, Leading to a Bloody Mess

We are in the thick of the June holidays, and many families may be on their way to visit our cute, feathery friends at the newly opened Bird Paradise.

However, be aware that some sharp-beaked birds may be out for you.

One secondary school girl was pecked on the ear by a mischievous cockatoo, leaving her with a bloody ear.

Here is what happened.

Cockatoo in Bird Paradise Bit Teenager’s Ear

Earlier this week, a family of four visited Bird Paradise’s Australian Outback aviary shortly after the park commenced operations for the day.

The family’s teenage daughter, a 13-year-old student, was happily taking pictures of a sulphur-crested cockatoo.

Once the girl turned her back on the cockatoo, it flew and landed on her shoulder. Then, it started to bite the girl’s ear.

This incident was recounted by Madam Serene Chen, who spoke to The Straits Times about this incident.

Madam Chen also shared that the rest of her family (including her husband and young son) “ran to save” her daughter. She also used her “middle finger to stop [the bird] from biting [her daughter]”.

Her husband then pushed the bird away.

The close encounter with the bird led to several puncture wounds on the girl’s ear, which was bleeding.

Image provided by Serene Chen to The Straits Times

Madam Chen’s finger was also slightly injured due to the bird’s biting.

Image provided by Serene Chen to The Straits Times

No rangers were in sight when the incident happened, and help arrived between 15 and 20 minutes after Madam Chen’s husband reported the matter to a nearby cleaner.

The girl was later treated at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

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Bird Paradise Is Retraining Its Birds

In response to the cockatoo “attacking” visitors, Mandai Wildlife Group spoke to The Straits Times and shared that the cockatoo in question had been moved to a back-of-house aviary.

The animal care team was also conditioning the parrots to refrain from perching on visitors.

Also, guests to the park are advised not to “touch, feed or reach out for the birds whose beaks and claws are sharp and can cause unintended injury”.

It was unclear if the teenage girl touched or fed the bird to invite the attack.

This biting incident comes in the wake of other incidents involving cockatoos in the park, including biting visitors’ shoes and park signboards and wires.

You may want to watch this video which also mentions the mischievous acts of the cockatoos at Bird Paradise.