After struggling to bond with members of their own flock, a matte black cockatoo and bright green lorikeet have become unexpected friends.
Greg Iron, director of Bonorong wildlife sanctuary in Tasmania, described their relationship as being “love at first sight” for Raphael, a musk lorikeet who was previously kept without a permit.
“He’s just obsessed,” he said, adding that George – the much bigger red-tailed black cockatoo – was “probably a bit bewildered” at first.
“The second Raphael was in the enclosure … it was like ‘you’re the one’,” he said.
It didn’t take long for the relationship to be reciprocated, with the pair spending, at most, five minutes apart.
“Ninety per cent of the time they’re very close to each other … quite often Raphael will be tucked under George’s wing, particularly when it’s cold … like a mother chicken with its young.
“I always have to stop and look at them when they’re snuggled up together because they’re just so happy.”
Iron said staff were initially wary of potential aggression due to the difference in the birds’ sizes, but there’s been nothing but affection between the two.
Iron said the relationship between the birds was “unique”, as different species tended to be ambivalent about each other. The pair hadn’t formed meaningful relationships with the other animals, he said, and George had interacted less with the female red-tailed black cockatoo than he did with Raphael.
“We wouldn’t separate them now,” Iron said.
“George is probably the best-looking boyfriend in all of Bonorong. The other [musk cockatoos] must be a bit jealous.”
Iron said that while he had “no idea” why their relationship was so strong, the two were probably “entertainment for each other”. Birds were social animals and being removed from the care of their past owners was probably traumatic, he said.
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Both Raphael and George experienced difficulties bonding with musk lorikeets and red-tailed black cockatoos. Raphael was separated from other lorikeets due to squabbling.
“George had only really connected with people … I think he thought he was a person.”
Iron said the pair had generated “lots of questions” among visitors, who were often surprised to see Raphael emerge from under George’s wings.
“I think people get a bit of a fright … there’s this moment of complete inability to process what’s going on … this tiny little bright green thing is suddenly popping out against this beautiful matte black.”
Some visitors took their thoughts on the pair to social media.
“This is really beautiful … could really teach humans a thing or two,” one visitor wrote on Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary’s Facebook page.
“I saw them yesterday,” another wrote. “Didn’t realise they had a thing going on.”