Parrots sit in cages waiting to be transported to the mainland
(Picture: AP)Hundreds of exotic birds including some of the world’s rarest parrots have been rescued from a Florida wildlife sanctuary after its owners refused to evacuate without them in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
The mission, dubbed Operation Noah’s Ark, transported two lemurs and 275 exotic birds to West Palm Beach from Pine Island, where they will be housed until a collapsed bridge can be repaired and normal life restored to the island.
Almost a dozen volunteers caught and caged the parrots, before ferrying them to Fort Myers using a small fleet of boats.
Last week, Hurricane Ian battered south-west Florida with 150mph gusts, making some roads impassable and islands inaccessible.
Heavy rains and wind-driven ocean surges brought dangerous flooding.
The rescue came about after Will Peratino and his partner, Lauren Stepp would not leave their Pine Island compound, even as authorities pleaded with residents to abandon their homes.
But the couple did not want to leave without their menagerie at the Malama Manu Sanctuary.
“We would not abandon them. I would never leave them. Never.
“If they cannot be fed or watered, they will die. And I can’t live with that,” said Ms Stepp.
The birds have been relying on food donated by wildlife officials since Hurricane Ian hit, but the supply of fruit, peanuts and other edibles would soon be hard to come by because of the drowned bridge and the scarcity of fuel on the island.
In the hours leading up to the storm, the sanctuary owners herded their flock of birds and packed them into their home to shield them.
“You don’t know what we’ve been through here. We had four feet of water in the house, damned-near drowned,” said Mr Peratino. “To have every bird safe is a huge undertaking. It’s almost impossible to do. So, the kind of help we’ve gotten has been invaluable.”
Many of the birds were rescued from homes that could no longer care for them. Some are used for breeding rare species.
