A toucan that had been seen flying around Las Vegas for months has been rescued, according to a bird rescue group. Sam the toucan had been living in the city since November, causing concern among bird experts and enthusiasts who worried about his ability to survive the harsh desert environment with its drastic weather changes.
Skye Marsh, president and co-founder of the SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue, said the rescue came as a relief. The toucan flew into someone's garage, and the homeowners, recognising the bird, shut the garage to prevent his escape. Sam had captivated the local community by surviving in the desert for months.
After the rescue group caught him, staff took him to a veterinarian. He showed signs of “wear and tear,” including dehydrated skin and a chip off his beak, but seemed otherwise healthy. The vet gave him fluids and took bloodwork. Sam had been eating better food since the rescue group put out healthier toucan food around a cage, and his improved health was evident from his healthier droppings.
Sam's owners, who had posted on social media about the bird's escape from its cage in November, have not been in contact with the rescue group. The toucan will now be quarantined at a staff member's house for 30 to 45 days to ensure he does not have bird flu, which could spread to other birds at the rescue centre.
