A pet cockatoo will enjoy a cabin on the cruise ship as it tours New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
A pet cockatoo will enjoy a cabin on the cruise ship as it tours New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
A pet cockatoo has enjoyed a luxury cruise around New Zealand after it stowed away on a visiting ship.
New Zealand biosecurity officials were alerted about the errant Australian galah as the ship approached Milford on January 25.
The Ministry for Primary Industries' border clearance services manager Andrew Spelman saidthe ship could only enter the country if the bird was put down or locked in the vessel.
Luckily for the feathered stowaway it was able to be confined to an unoccupied cabin where it was subject to strict conditions.
The galah could have been carrying avian diseases that were a threat to New Zealand's native birds.
"We needed photographic evidence of its containment and the name of an officer responsible for looking after the bird. There was also a requirement for MPI officers to check on the bird and its containment facilities at every new port visit in New Zealand," said Spelman.
"The vessel operators have been very particular in following our directive, so we're satisfied any biosecurity risk has been mitigated."
As well as enjoying life in the lap of luxury the bird's epic journey looked to have an even happier ending after the vessel left New Zealand. An MPI quarantine officer discovered the cockatoo had a microchip matching the number of a missing bird from Brisbane.
"We have word from Australian officials that it can be reunited with its owner in Brisbane when it returns home, as long as it passes an examination by a departmental vet," he said.
