Harri the galah stowed away on cruise ship to New Zealand

A stowaway galah has scored his own private cabin on a luxury cruise ship from Australia to New Zealand after flying the coop in Brisbane.

The adventurous bird named Harri was found onboard The Sea Princess as it approached Milford on the west coast of the South Island on Sunday. 

The ship was four days into a 14-day cruise, and it’s believed the bird made its way onboard when it was docked in Brisbane on January 21. 

New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries border clearance services manager Andrew Spelman said the bird would either have to be euthanised or ‘secured and bonded to the vessel’ before the ship could enter New Zealand.

A stowaway galah has scored its own private cabin on a luxury cruise ship from Australia to New Zealand after flying the coop in Brisbane

There were fears Harri may have been carrying diseases with the potential to harm New Zealand’s native bird population.

The galah was able to be captured and secured in its own unoccupied cabin, where it was ‘subject to strict conditions’ according to the ministry.

‘We needed photographic evidence of its containment and the name of an office responsible for looking after the bird,’ Mr Spelman said.

‘There was also a requirement for MPI officers to check on the bird and its containment facilities at every new port visit in New Zealand.

‘The vessel operators have been very particular in following our directive, so we’re satisfied any biosecurity risk has been mitigated.’

The vessel is set to leave New Zealand this week.

There will be a happy ending for Harri as an MPI quarantine officer was able to find a microchip on Harri, matching him to a reported missing bird in Brisbane.

In a strange coincidence Harri’s owners were on another cruise ship when they were notified of the discovery of their bird. 

The adventurous bird named Harri was found onboard The Sea Princess as it approached Milford on the west coast of the South Island on Sunday

The adventurous bird named Harri was found onboard The Sea Princess as it approached Milford on the west coast of the South Island on Sunday

‘We have word from Australian officials that it can be reunited with its owner in Brisbane when it returns home, as long as it passes  an examination by a departmental vet,’ Mr Spelman said.

Harri’s vet Adrian Gallagher told the ABC Harri has been ‘keeping everyone entertained on the cruise ship’.

‘He’s got a lot of character this bird. He’s pretty ingenious.’

 



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