Stolen rare parrots found in city

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

A pair of red-vented cockatoos stolen from premises owned by Bristol Zoo have been found in the Southmead area.

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

The male and female birds were among six re-homed at the zoo in 2004 after being confiscated by Customs officers.

A zoo spokesman said: "It is fantastic news that we have these birds back where they can be properly cared for."

"The loss of this pair would have had a huge impact on the breeding programme for this critical species," said the zoo's deputy director Dr Bryan Carroll.

Rarest birds

A police spokesman said investigations were continuing and asked anyone with information about who stole the birds to get in touch.

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

Their population has decreased dramatically in the wild due to loss of habitat and illegal trapping for the caged bird trade.

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