Molly the Magpie, the social media sensation, and her Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby, may be separated once again.
A court has overturned the wildlife carer’s licence granted to Gold Coast couple Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, putting Molly’s future in jeopardy.
A Rocky Past for Molly and Her Carers
In March, authorities removed Molly from the couple’s home after discovering they had no permit to care for native wildlife. However, after a public outcry, Molly was returned six weeks later. The couple was eventually granted a permit, but not before a legal firm, XD Law & Advocacy, launched a Supreme Court action against the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) on behalf of an unnamed wildlife rescue volunteer.
The Court’s Decision
On Monday, the Supreme Court overturned the granting of the licence, citing that the department made a mistake. The court’s order was made with the consent of DESI, which will now determine what happens to Molly. A departmental spokesman said, ‘In trying to protect the welfare of the bird – which has always been our highest priority – we made an error, and we are currently considering next steps.’
The Debate Over Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
The wildlife volunteer who took court action believes that magpies are not suitable pets and suffer when kept in domestic captivity. In fact, DESI’s original position was that Molly, who is male, would likely not survive if kept as a pet. The department had independent veterinary advice that Molly could never be returned to the wild and would need to be sent to a sanctuary or euthanised.
The Power of Social Media
Molly and Peggy have 1.3 million followers on Facebook and almost 1 million more on Instagram. The public backlash led to an extraordinary intervention by Queensland’s then-premier, Steven Miles, who granted the couple a permit to keep Molly. Mr Miles dismissed criticism that he had caved in to social media pressure, saying it was the ‘common sense’ approach.
The Consequences of Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
XD Law & Advocacy argued that the decision to grant the permit was made on political grounds due to media pressure and set a precedent for anyone to keep a wild animal. Lawyer Jack Vaughan said, ‘We became involved when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets.’
The Future of Molly and Her Carers
The Supreme Court’s decision has left Molly’s future uncertain. The department will now determine what happens to the magpie, and it remains to be seen whether Molly will be separated from her carers and canine companions once again. One thing is certain, however – the debate over keeping wild animals as pets will continue to rage on.