Parakeet stolen from Canadian zoo for second time in five years

MONTREAL, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A zoo in Canada shared a message seeking the return of a parakeet which was stolen for the second time in five years.

Perroquets en folie in Montreal shared photos of Paco the parakeet, as well as surveillance footage of an unidentified man that stole the Alexandrine parakeet.

"We have your photo and your face on video," they warned the suspect. "We are giving you 24 hours to return our bird or we will be forced to report you to police."

Zoo owner Melie Breton told the CBC a family began asking questions about Paco at the same time security footage showed a man sneaking into Paco's cage and taking him out.

She believed the family may have been attempting to cause a distraction while the suspect stole Paco so they could breed him, as young Alexandrine parakeets are typically sold for between $800 and $1,200.

Breton said that Paco's sociable character made him the target of another theft five years ago, but made a loud beeping sound which led passersby to call the police.

The zoo owners ended their Facebook post by explaining that parakeets can become distressed by sudden changes in their environment.

"Some people think these big-hearted creatures are objects. They are not! They can be traumatized and feel fear," they wrote.