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Vet Gives Parrot New Wings After Someone Severely Trims Them
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Vet Gives Parrot New Wings After Someone Severely Trims Them

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It takes only a few hours to completely change the life of an animal. Dr. Catherine Apuli, a vet working with The Unusual Pet Vets in Brisbane, Australia, gave a parrot named Wei Wei the ability to soar again.

Wei Wei had been the victim of wing trimming to prevent it from flying. However, with Dr. Apuli’s help, the parrot was able to take to the skies! All it took was some MacGyverish ingenuity and creativity which involved some donated feathers, glue, and toothpicks. (But don’t worry, dear Pandas, the procedure was completely painless!) Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. Apuli!

This vet isn’t the only helping other creatures soar the skies again. When you’re done with this post, check out Bored Panda’s earlier article about Katie VanBlaricum who helps butterflies fly again by giving them wing transplants.

More info: UnusualPetVets.com | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Wei Wei the parrot couldn’t fly because somebody had trimmed its wings, but now it can once again soar in the skies

Image credits: Caters News Agency

A vet helped Wei Wei fly again by fixing its wings while it slept

Image credits: Caters News Agency

“Wei Wei was brought in for a general health check as the owner had just bought her and wanted to know if she was healthy. During her physical exam, I explained that her wings were cut too short and too many feathers were cut, however, we do see this commonly,” Dr. Apuli went into more detail about Wei Wei’s situation.

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The vet used donated feathers to create prosthetic wings for the parrot!

Image credits: Caters News Agency

Wei Wei didn’t feel a thing, so don’t worry about the lil’ parrot

Image credits: Caters News Agency

“As the owner had just bought her up that same day, she was not yet sure if Wei Wei was affected by her short wing trim. I warned of injuries that can occur with a severe wing trim. One week later, Wei Wei came back for a microchipping procedure,” the vet continued. “The owners stated at this time that she was falling heavily to the ground and hurting her feet. The imping procedure was performed one week after the microchip procedure. The parrot is now living happily at her owner’s house, where she is teaching Wei Wei ‘recall training’ where the bird is trained to fly to the owner on cue.”

Repairing damaged feathers by attaching parts of new ones is known as ‘imping’

Image credits: Caters News Agency

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Image credits: Caters News Agency

Dr. Apuli confirmed to us that she’s performed the same procedure she did on Wei Wei many times before.

According to her, the vet clinic posts the most interesting cases of them helping animals out on their Facebook page. “The Unusual Pet Vets specialize in exotic or ‘unusual’ pets. This means we don’t see cats and dogs, we only see reptiles, small mammals, and birds.”

Here’s what Wei Wei looked like before the procedure

Image credits: Caters News Agency

And here’s how fabulous the parrot looks after it

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Image credits: Caters News Agency

Apuli gave the 12-week-old Green Cheeked Conure a pair of prosthetic wings made out of feathers donated to the clinic. Within hours of the procedure, during which the parrot slept as the prosthetics were glued to its body, Wei Wei was back on its feet (well, wings) and was maneuvering in the air like a pro.

What Apuli did is known as ‘imping’ and involved repairing damaged feathers by attaching parts of new ones. In Wei Wei’s case, the vet used toothpicks for support.

Wei Wei had been a victim of “severe” wing trimming. This is a controversial procedure that some exotic bird owners do to keep their pets grounded and to prevent their escape. Previously, every time Wei Wei had tried to fly, it would fall to the ground.

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This is Dr. Catherine Apuli, the heroine who saved Wei Wei

Image credits: Caters News Agency

You can learn more about the awesome vet right here

Image credits: Caters News Agency

Look at how gorgeous the bird looks!

Image credits: Caters News Agency

“The bird had a severe wing trim, which means that the flight feathers were cut too short and too many feathers were cut,” the 31-year-old veterinarian Apuli said.

It’s unclear who exactly trimmed the parrot’s wings: whether it was a previous owner, a pet store owner, or a breeder.

People were inspired by Dr. Apuli’s kindhearted actions

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jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The selling, breeding and keeping of wild creatures should be banned, period. there's just no excuse in this day and age for taking an intelligent and long-lived bird that lives in flocks and has the whole sky as its domain, and putting it alone in a cage, and destroying its wings. It's disgusting and should be illegal.

mittenkg avatar
FrancesCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jo - I completely agree. Birds should not be bred or captured for housepets. They should only be free to fly. In 2020, the only birds that should be indoors are rescues.

Load More Replies...
heathervance avatar
AzKhaleesi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok this pisses me off, first off that is a green cheek conure in case there are any people here that don't know birds. I have one that looks just like him. His name is Cricket and he's so cute. Now that he hit sexual maturity he's not my sweet guy anymore he's an a*s, but we love him lol. Second, when you trim a bird so they can't fly let me educate.... it does NOT hurt them, and they grow back, the problem was those were the WRONG feathers. we trim all our birds (9) because it's safer for them so they don't hit ceiling fans etc. BUT it doesn't KEEP them from flying that's a common misconception. Actually it prevents lift off and getting altitude BUT if you go outside and their wings are trimmed and there's a gust of air that they catch just right, they can and WILL still fly.

star_dusting avatar
Steph
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you put a bird under anaesthetic when these feathers will grow back on their own after the bird molts?

natalee_rat avatar
Peachymiss
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because if you read the article they cut the feathers so short the bird couldn't land safely and was getting hurt by falling hard to the ground

Load More Replies...
aftereight1234 avatar
Clavelle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish there was a video of him/her flying for the first time with the new feathers! I'm glad that vet was able to give the gift of flight back to Wei Wei!

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really wonder why they thought this was necessary. The cut feathers would have fallen out and new ones would have grown soon anyway. As the owner I would not have risked anaesthasia for this.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the feathers were trimmed too short the bird would have bled out- you have to be very careful you don't get near the blood supply. Very young to trim any feathers.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wei Wei have a beautiful wings back, whoever did that to the birdie should not have any animals at all.

stardraws030 avatar
star draws 030
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was no point, the poor guy was at a risk of dying due to the Anastasia, birds arnt too good with it, and he could have grown them back with his next molt, my alexandrines wings were butchered by his last owner and he’s going through his first molt at the moment, the flight feathers will grow back he’s already lost 10 of the trimmed ones. I wouldn’t trim a birds wing, it can cause muscle damage and more things, if u don’t want ur bird flying around, don’t get one.

shilpagorai avatar
Shilpa Gorai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parrot lost its one wing its totally cut of I m in to much heart broken right now don't know what to do my head is just blowing me out I can't handle my baby pain 😫

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate snobby people who mutilate animals; dislike (that's an understatement) those idiotic dog shows.

ptoddchesser avatar
Trash Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was not even aware this procedure is a thing. It's great!

hannahspivey avatar
Hannah Spivey
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's so sad that someone would trim the wings but it's awesome what the vet did

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yikes, whoever "trimmed" those wings really mangled the job! Wings are to be trimmed no more than 1/3 of the length of the bird, in a straight line even with the topline of the wing! I trimmed my parakeets wings when I first got them, and soon they knew and trusted me enough to want to fly to me. Then I stopped trimming, and just made sure to only open their cage when no doors and windows were open.

ashley-kellers avatar
Ashley Kellers
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG look how grateful wei wei is afterwards, snuggling up to their heroine - IM NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!!!

thisismyrevenge avatar
Jason Harper
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea it's common practice. Not something new. It's for the safety of the bird. Anyways, too short is a bad idea, and dangerous too for the bird, but they do grow back. In fact, they molt yearly if not more.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We adopted some birds from a person who was moving and couldn't keep them. They were never socialized and had their wings clipped. They still are scared of us but we have been working with them and we let them out on the weekends to fly around the living room. Their wings have grown back and they are becoming decent flyers, they even put themselves back in their cage when it is time to go to sleep. I mostly don't agree with birds being sold as pets, especially when they are not handled from a young age. Then they live so long they end up getting passed around then they get harder to handle. We ourselves are really to busy to dedicate the amount of time necessary for our birds to be socialized, so we just try to keep them as healthy and happy as we can and try not to take it too hard when they never want to hang out with us.

bellacullen avatar
HorrorWeirdo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww, poor Wei Wei... The person is a bastard. It’s called animal abuse. I’m glad Wei Wei got his wings back! :’)

megansmith_3 avatar
Megan Smith
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is super bothersome. Cutting feathers isn't like declawing or debarking or even neutering animals. It's literally a haircut; painless and will regrow. They can still glide for the most part, especially a conure like that Anesthesia on birds has a high risk of killing them, putting a bird under just to imp the wings?? What was that vet thinking

lisaj avatar
Lisa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's a sweet boy, I'd love to take care of a bird because they are so intelligent and beautiful but it takes a lot of dedication/patience and educating yourself on how to take proper care of a bird. That's alot of work, I'll stick to trying to befriend wild crows and ravens. They can do their thing and I can do mine

felicia_3 avatar
Felicia Dale
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The original wing trim was done entirely wrong! A correct wing trim can be a good thing, especially if you take your bird outside a lot without a harness or a carrier. A good wing trim allows a bird to glide to the floor or ground safely, keeps it from flying into windows (though they can easily be taught to avoid them, and mirrors and such, too), and if lost outside it can help keep the bird on the ground so you can catch it again before a cat or other predator gets it. I had a parrot for seven years (he died of complications from proventricular dilation disorder and incompetent vets) and since he much preferred to walk around rather than fly anywhere a wing trim was not a problem for him. I also hung out with a great group of people who didn't trim at all and regularly flew their birds at an old, empty grocery store. It was so much fun to watch all these birds from budgies to macaws hurtling around that big space! Our parrot was simply not into it, likely because of his illness...

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Birds have the gift of flight and that's incredible. Are you sure you the best person to decide if they should have that taken away from them?

Load More Replies...
feckerkehoe avatar
Iggy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dr. Apuli is so wonderfully skilled. Such an ingenious thing to do. As for the person who clipped the poor bird's wings, may they have all the bad luck they deserve.

michelle_muirhead avatar
Michelle Muirhead
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor wee bird. I hate when I see them mutilated. They are birds, they should fly unless of course they are Kiwis, Emus, etc!

finfrosk avatar
Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope whoever cut those wings got their fingers ground up in a meat grinder.

xyzbilalasif avatar
BiLal Asif
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's good & all but do you know they regrow their feathers it was all for nothing

ng avatar
N G
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Nice article, now i want a Wei Wei

viviane_katz avatar
Viviane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the research if you're since about it. Check if they fit your lifestyle and temperament and if you can make the commitment. I have no pets because of my work hours and once I retire, I'll have to ensure I'm around long enough to care for one. A good start for you might be to volunteer at a bird sanctuary or talk to parrot owners.

Load More Replies...
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The selling, breeding and keeping of wild creatures should be banned, period. there's just no excuse in this day and age for taking an intelligent and long-lived bird that lives in flocks and has the whole sky as its domain, and putting it alone in a cage, and destroying its wings. It's disgusting and should be illegal.

mittenkg avatar
FrancesCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jo - I completely agree. Birds should not be bred or captured for housepets. They should only be free to fly. In 2020, the only birds that should be indoors are rescues.

Load More Replies...
heathervance avatar
AzKhaleesi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok this pisses me off, first off that is a green cheek conure in case there are any people here that don't know birds. I have one that looks just like him. His name is Cricket and he's so cute. Now that he hit sexual maturity he's not my sweet guy anymore he's an a*s, but we love him lol. Second, when you trim a bird so they can't fly let me educate.... it does NOT hurt them, and they grow back, the problem was those were the WRONG feathers. we trim all our birds (9) because it's safer for them so they don't hit ceiling fans etc. BUT it doesn't KEEP them from flying that's a common misconception. Actually it prevents lift off and getting altitude BUT if you go outside and their wings are trimmed and there's a gust of air that they catch just right, they can and WILL still fly.

star_dusting avatar
Steph
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you put a bird under anaesthetic when these feathers will grow back on their own after the bird molts?

natalee_rat avatar
Peachymiss
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because if you read the article they cut the feathers so short the bird couldn't land safely and was getting hurt by falling hard to the ground

Load More Replies...
aftereight1234 avatar
Clavelle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish there was a video of him/her flying for the first time with the new feathers! I'm glad that vet was able to give the gift of flight back to Wei Wei!

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really wonder why they thought this was necessary. The cut feathers would have fallen out and new ones would have grown soon anyway. As the owner I would not have risked anaesthasia for this.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the feathers were trimmed too short the bird would have bled out- you have to be very careful you don't get near the blood supply. Very young to trim any feathers.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wei Wei have a beautiful wings back, whoever did that to the birdie should not have any animals at all.

stardraws030 avatar
star draws 030
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was no point, the poor guy was at a risk of dying due to the Anastasia, birds arnt too good with it, and he could have grown them back with his next molt, my alexandrines wings were butchered by his last owner and he’s going through his first molt at the moment, the flight feathers will grow back he’s already lost 10 of the trimmed ones. I wouldn’t trim a birds wing, it can cause muscle damage and more things, if u don’t want ur bird flying around, don’t get one.

shilpagorai avatar
Shilpa Gorai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parrot lost its one wing its totally cut of I m in to much heart broken right now don't know what to do my head is just blowing me out I can't handle my baby pain 😫

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate snobby people who mutilate animals; dislike (that's an understatement) those idiotic dog shows.

ptoddchesser avatar
Trash Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was not even aware this procedure is a thing. It's great!

hannahspivey avatar
Hannah Spivey
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's so sad that someone would trim the wings but it's awesome what the vet did

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yikes, whoever "trimmed" those wings really mangled the job! Wings are to be trimmed no more than 1/3 of the length of the bird, in a straight line even with the topline of the wing! I trimmed my parakeets wings when I first got them, and soon they knew and trusted me enough to want to fly to me. Then I stopped trimming, and just made sure to only open their cage when no doors and windows were open.

ashley-kellers avatar
Ashley Kellers
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG look how grateful wei wei is afterwards, snuggling up to their heroine - IM NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!!!

thisismyrevenge avatar
Jason Harper
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea it's common practice. Not something new. It's for the safety of the bird. Anyways, too short is a bad idea, and dangerous too for the bird, but they do grow back. In fact, they molt yearly if not more.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We adopted some birds from a person who was moving and couldn't keep them. They were never socialized and had their wings clipped. They still are scared of us but we have been working with them and we let them out on the weekends to fly around the living room. Their wings have grown back and they are becoming decent flyers, they even put themselves back in their cage when it is time to go to sleep. I mostly don't agree with birds being sold as pets, especially when they are not handled from a young age. Then they live so long they end up getting passed around then they get harder to handle. We ourselves are really to busy to dedicate the amount of time necessary for our birds to be socialized, so we just try to keep them as healthy and happy as we can and try not to take it too hard when they never want to hang out with us.

bellacullen avatar
HorrorWeirdo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww, poor Wei Wei... The person is a bastard. It’s called animal abuse. I’m glad Wei Wei got his wings back! :’)

megansmith_3 avatar
Megan Smith
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is super bothersome. Cutting feathers isn't like declawing or debarking or even neutering animals. It's literally a haircut; painless and will regrow. They can still glide for the most part, especially a conure like that Anesthesia on birds has a high risk of killing them, putting a bird under just to imp the wings?? What was that vet thinking

lisaj avatar
Lisa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's a sweet boy, I'd love to take care of a bird because they are so intelligent and beautiful but it takes a lot of dedication/patience and educating yourself on how to take proper care of a bird. That's alot of work, I'll stick to trying to befriend wild crows and ravens. They can do their thing and I can do mine

felicia_3 avatar
Felicia Dale
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The original wing trim was done entirely wrong! A correct wing trim can be a good thing, especially if you take your bird outside a lot without a harness or a carrier. A good wing trim allows a bird to glide to the floor or ground safely, keeps it from flying into windows (though they can easily be taught to avoid them, and mirrors and such, too), and if lost outside it can help keep the bird on the ground so you can catch it again before a cat or other predator gets it. I had a parrot for seven years (he died of complications from proventricular dilation disorder and incompetent vets) and since he much preferred to walk around rather than fly anywhere a wing trim was not a problem for him. I also hung out with a great group of people who didn't trim at all and regularly flew their birds at an old, empty grocery store. It was so much fun to watch all these birds from budgies to macaws hurtling around that big space! Our parrot was simply not into it, likely because of his illness...

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Birds have the gift of flight and that's incredible. Are you sure you the best person to decide if they should have that taken away from them?

Load More Replies...
feckerkehoe avatar
Iggy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dr. Apuli is so wonderfully skilled. Such an ingenious thing to do. As for the person who clipped the poor bird's wings, may they have all the bad luck they deserve.

michelle_muirhead avatar
Michelle Muirhead
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor wee bird. I hate when I see them mutilated. They are birds, they should fly unless of course they are Kiwis, Emus, etc!

finfrosk avatar
Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope whoever cut those wings got their fingers ground up in a meat grinder.

xyzbilalasif avatar
BiLal Asif
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's good & all but do you know they regrow their feathers it was all for nothing

ng avatar
N G
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Nice article, now i want a Wei Wei

viviane_katz avatar
Viviane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the research if you're since about it. Check if they fit your lifestyle and temperament and if you can make the commitment. I have no pets because of my work hours and once I retire, I'll have to ensure I'm around long enough to care for one. A good start for you might be to volunteer at a bird sanctuary or talk to parrot owners.

Load More Replies...
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