Where’s pretty foul-mouthed boy gone in Little Venice then?

Published: 18 June 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

SOMEWHERE in Little Venice a foul-mouthed parrot is perched. Coco, a four-year-old African grey, has escaped from the cage at his Warwick Avenue home for the second time in a month.

His devastated owner, Jacqui Brantles, has been fly-posting the area with missing notices and is offering a reward. But she has warned potential bounty hunters they might have to suffer a tirade of four-letter squawks if they manage to track down the seasoned escape artist.

“I’m hoping he’ll talk to someone to get noticed,” said Jacqui. “I imagine he’s in a tree somewhere nearby. He can’t have gone far. Last time he went missing a lady found him in Formosa Street. He says the f-word a lot. It’s terrible really, but he can say other things.”

Sympathetic pet owners who want to join the hunt should listen out for some of Coco’s other favourite words: Rocky, Bambi and an unnervingly good imitation of a ringing telephone.

Despite his dashing red plumage, Coco is evidently a little camera shy – he shot out of the French windows and over the gate after becoming distressed by a camera flash at a party.

It has been two weeks since the Houdini-like caper, but Jacqui, who also owns six dogs, hopes the offer of a £250 reward will help bring him home. 

She added: “I know it’s been two weeks but I haven’t given up hope. 

“The strange thing is he can’t actually fly very well at all. People always asked us if we clipped his wings but we didn’t. 

“I don’t know what happened but something has got into him. It’s very sad because we had him from when he was a boy and taught him how to speak. 

“He is part of the ­family.”

African greys live in the wild in west and central Africa. They are considered one of the most intelligent birds and are popular as pets because of their gentle nature and ability to mimic speech.

If you see Coco, call Jacqui on 07774 696 123.