Woman hires hydraulic lift to rescue pet parrot from tree

Animal lover Emma Hooper hired a hydraulic lift to rescue her pet parrot Cleo, who had a panic attack after flying 50 feet up a tree. The 13-year-old macaw had become distressed after a recent house move and escaped from Miss Hooper's garden.

The disorientated bird flew up a nearby tree but, terrified by the height, wouldn't come down when coaxed. Unable to get the fire brigade or RSPCA to come out, Miss Hooper ended up paying for a cherry picker. When she was told it wouldn't arrive until the next day the 27-year-old kept an all-night vigil by the tree.

"Cleo was obviously very scared," she said. "Whenever I went out of her sight she called to me to get her down. I felt so helpless. It was awful, the worst feeling in the world. I took out a chair and blanket but I was getting strange looks from people driving by.



"They looked very confused when I said my bird was stuck up in the tree. I ended up driving my car around the corner and parked next to the tree. It was warmer and I felt safer but I still got no sleep." She's never flown at that height before and I think she was scared – she didn't know how to get down.

"People might think I'm daft but Cleo is my baby – she's so loyal and loving and I've got a wonderful bond with her. Seeing her so high up and unable to get down really panicked me."

Cleo was finally lifted to safety when the cherry picker turned up at 7.30am the next morning – 16 hours after the bird first became stuck. "Cleo seemed relieved to see me – she clung on to me for dear life," Miss Hooper said.