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Published: October 27 2014

DAVIE, FL- Intruders played a cruel Halloween trick late Saturday night when they broke into the courtyard of Flamingo Gardens and stole an African Grey parrot named Snappy. The 35 year old African Grey male has resided at the botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary since his owner surrendered him 15 years ago.

The thief is thought to have scaled the fence, cut the bird's enclosure, and snatched the parrot sometime between 11pm Saturday night and 7am this morning when caregivers arrived to feed him. They discovered a hole cut into the exhibit and the screen ripped away from the structure.

Laura Wyatt, Curator of Wildlife at Flamingo Gardens, hopes that Snappy was taken by someone that genuinely wants him and will give him a good home, and not by someone who plans to sell him.

"He's not a particularly social bird, and has been living here happy and comfortable for so long, it pains me to think of him stressed out in a small or crowded cage waiting to be sold."

In the US, the only birds that are allowed to be legally sold are those that have been hatched and raised in captivity. With increased regulation, the price of parrots have risen and the illegal bird trade has become a big problem in Florida.

Congo African Greys come from the Ghana region of Africa and are the more rare of African Grey Parrots. The predominantly grey, black-billed parrot, with a bright red tail, is prized for its ability to mimic human speech and can fetch up between $1,000 and $1,500 in pet stores and on the black market.

Ultimately, Flamingo Gardens is hoping that Snappy will be returned, but wants to use this opportunity to educate the public about responsible bird ownership.

"Parrots live a very long time and are a big commitment." say Wyatt. "Just like dogs and cats, thousands of parrots are relinquished by their owners each year, so we encourage people to do their research first. If they decide that a parrot is the right pet for them, buy only from a reputable dealer, or better yet, adopt from a bird rescue center like Florida Parrot Rescue."

Snappy is well loved by the staff and members of Flamingo Gardens, and they are hoping for information which may lead to his safe return. Snappy is known to mimic the ringing noise of cellphones, "wolf" whistle, and whistle Stars and Stripes Forever. If you have any information which may lead to the return of Snappy, please call Flamingo Gardens at (954) 473-2955 or notify police.