Rare parrots taken from city zoo

There are thought to be only 1,000 red-vented cockatoos left in the wild

A pair of red-vented cockatoos have been stolen from premises owned by Bristol Zoo.

The birds, native to the Philippines, are "critically endangered", according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The pair, a male and a female, were among six re-homed at the zoo in 2004 after being confiscated by customs.

All the cockatoos are micro-chipped and have identification rings. The other four birds have been moved elsewhere.

John Hayward, co-ordinator of the national theft register for exotic animals and a security advisor to Bristol Zoo, said: "We are particularly anxious for the welfare of the birds.

A major concern is the damage this will do to the zoo's breeding programme for this critically-endangered species John Hayward, zoo security advisor

"Whoever has stolen them is unlikely to be aware of their special dietary requirements, so the sooner they are recovered the better.

"Another major concern is the damage this will do to the zoo's breeding programme for this critically-endangered species if the birds are not returned."

Red-vented cockatoos, sometimes called the Philippine Cockatoo, have white plumage with significant orange-red coloured feathers around the vent (below the tail) and pale yellow underwings.

Populations of red-vented cockatoos have decreased dramatically in the wild due to loss of habitat and illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade.

They are among the rarest birds in the world with around 1,000 thought to be left in the wild.

Police have asked anyone with information on the birds to get in touch.