Lost Westville bird reunited with family
The family thanked everyone who helped search for their beloved Bam Bam and warned the public who are going or may go through a similar situation to be wary of scammers who prey on vulnerable families.
A WESTVILLE family is grateful to the community who came together to help them find a brave little Lovebird named Bam Bam.
Bam Bam escaped from his cage at his new home in Westville North on April 8 and took off on an unexpected adventure.
His foster family, along with the family who lovingly raised him from a fledgling, and who are emigrating in just a few days, were devastated.
Bam Bam’s new owner Jenny Thom said they immediately reached out to WhatsApp and Facebook groups, posting his photo and the area from which he had flown.
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“We called his name over and over, played recordings of Lovebird calls, and hoped desperately that he would call back so we could locate him. Sadly, the silence was heartbreaking.”
The following morning his foster family were out at sunrise, hoping that the quieter hours would make it easier to hear him.
“But the sounds of lawnmowers and chainsaws drowned out any faint call he may have made. By Thursday, we were in tears. The hours were ticking by, and with every moment, our hope faded. By Friday, we even contacted animal communicators in the hope of finding closure — or a miracle.”
And then, at 15:29 on Friday, April 12, a friend called the family.
“She told us she had posted Bam Bam’s details to a ‘Lost and Found Pets’ WhatsApp group, and someone believed he had landed safely at a home in Westville.
“We called immediately and received a video that confirmed it was, without a doubt, our little Bam Bam!”
Thom said they were ecstatic!
“It truly felt like a miracle that he had found a safe place to land. It seems he may have been drawn in by the calls of the family’s African Grey parrots and spotted a small cage outside the garage. The kind-hearted family took him in and quickly fell in love with him. Once again, Bam Bam had extended his family,” said a grateful Thom.
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To everyone who helped search, shared posts, and checked in every day, the family said they were grateful.
While their story had a happy ending, Thom advised people facing a similar situation to be cautious.
“There are, unfortunately, scammers who prey on vulnerable families. We found WhatsApp groups to be the most effective and trustworthy. They are more private and offer direct communication, while public platforms like Facebook can sometimes attract the wrong kind of attention,” she advised.
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