Pepper the cockatoo returns home to Staglands Wildlife Reserve

A beloved Upper Hutt cockatoo known for her catchphrase "hello darling" is home, after being stolen from Staglands Wildlife Reserve a week ago.

Pepper, a six-year-old sulphur-crested cockatoo, was taken from her aviary on 17 November.

Staglands' Sarah Purdy told Morning Report that the reserve's team were "all absolutely delighted and a little bit surprised" at the news of Pepper's return.

After public pleas for sightings of their precious parrot, Staglands posted the "most amazing news" on Facebook that Pepper had been returned on Friday night.

It turns out Pepper had been purchased - and the new 'owners' only realised they had bought her when the story of her birdnapping aired on 1 News.

The cockatoo was dropped off to the Porirua Police Station, and Constable Tushar, on his first day on the front line, took care of her until her keepers arrived, they said.

It was "very lucky" the man who had purchased Pepper recognised the story on TV and "did the right thing" by taking her straight to the local police station, Purdy said.

Staglands staff believed the theft was not "spur of moment", and police were making further inquiries, she said.

The good news was Pepper had been returned unharmed, although she had lost some weight, she said.

Pepper was picked up from the police station by some park rangers, and she recognised them straight away, Purdy said.

"She's been great - a little bit shell-shocked, perhaps. She's been moved round a fair bit in the last 48 hours, back in a different aviary, but she's been good."

Purdy said it looked like the theft was by "someone that knows birds".

"She's a very trusting, very loving bird, so that made it a lot easier for them, I think."

Her new aviary was more secure, and no longer a walk-through one, Purdy said.

"[It's] a wee bit of a shame because she does like that interaction, but it's much safer for them."

Pepper was still talking, though.

"She's very chatty... hello darling!"

Purdy confirmed Pepper still had "very much an Australian accent".

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