ZAZU (Great-billed Parrot)

June 2024 – Intake at Avalon Store
• Transfer from Susanne’s Home Aviary to Store: Zazu, a Great Billed Parrot, was brought into the Avalon store by Susanne in June 2024. At intake, he was almost completely feather plucked and had a scissored (overgrown and misaligned) beak. His physical condition was consistent with signs of prolonged lack of grooming care and environmental stress.

• Initial Signs of Recovery:
– Within weeks of being removed from Susanne’s care, Zazu’s feathers began to regrow, and his disposition noticeably improved.
– By the three-month mark, staff observed significant feather regrowth, suggesting that environmental stressors or suboptimal conditions in Susanne’s home may have contributed to his prior condition.

July–August 2024 – Bleeding Incidents and Broken Feathers
• First Bleeding Incident (Mid-July, Sunday):
– The weekend feeder, LH, discovered Zazu bleeding heavily and initially feared a serious abdominal wound.
– As the only staff member on site, he took a video and sent it to the Store Manager and Susanne Cochran.
– Per the caretaker, when Susanne arrived, she rinsed the blood off Zazu and determined the bleeding was from a broken blood feather on his left wing.
– Susanne removed the broken feather using pliers, with the caretaker assisting.

• Second Bleeding Incident (Following Sunday):
– One week later, Zazu was again found with extensive bleeding, including blood across his cage and the adjacent wall.
– He had four broken feathers on the same wing.
– The caretaker once again reported the incident to the Store Manager and Susanne.
– Susanne again attributed the injuries to Zazu possibly falling off his perch. She explained this was ‘very common,’ although the rest of the staff had not observed Zazu falling from perches.

November 10, 2024 – Final Incident and Removal
• On November 10, Zazu was once again found actively bleeding by an employee.
• Following this third recorded incident, Susanne removed Zazu from the store and took him back to her home aviary.

This account is based on staff observations, communications, and internal documentation. All information has been presented to the best of our ability and with the intent to advocate for appropriate animal welfare practices.

Scroll through the items below (on a computer) by double clicking on the pictures and using the arrows on either side of the pictures to scroll through. Only a picture preview is in the display array, and the arrow isn't easy to view in all browsers.