Parrots Removed from UK Zoo for Swearing at Visitors

In a surprising turn of events, five African grey parrots at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park were removed after they began swearing at visitors. Initially brought in for public viewing, these parrots quickly learned to use foul language, shocking staff and raising concerns about the impact on children. The park's chief executive expressed disbelief at the parrots' behavior, noting that in 25 years, such an incident had never occurred. The decision to remove them was made to ensure a family-friendly environment. This unusual story highlights the unpredictable nature of animal behavior and the importance of monitoring interactions in public spaces.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 08:50 IST

Swearing Parrots Cause Stir at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park

Many have seen talking parrots, but swearing parrots are a rarity. At a zoo in the UK, five parrots became notorious for their foul language, prompting officials to remove them from public view. These five African grey parrots, named Eric, Jade, Elsie, Tyson, and Billy, were recently introduced to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park.

However, their penchant for swearing at visitors led to their removal from the exhibit.

Parrots Start Swearing at Zoo Visitors

The wildlife park's staff had placed these five parrots in a single cage. Within just a week, they learned to swear at each other and eventually directed their insults at the zoo's visitors. The staff were astonished by the language these parrots picked up, which seemed to develop from their interactions with one another.

Unprecedented Behavior in 25 Years

Steve Nichols, the chief executive of the wildlife park, expressed his surprise, stating, "We were shocked to learn about the parrots swearing. In 25 years, we have never encountered anything like this. While we knew parrots could occasionally say inappropriate things, swearing at visitors was a first for us. We are now concerned about the children visiting the park, which is why we decided to remove them."

Audience Laughter Encouraged Their Behavior

Nichols further explained, "The coincidence was that we had five different parrots in one cage for just a week. This created a situation where only swearing parrots were present. We initially thought they would outgrow this bad habit, but instead, they began swearing at the audience. When they did, visitors laughed loudly, which only encouraged the parrots to swear even more."

Removed for the Sake of Children

Nichols noted, "While the swearing might be amusing for adults, it is not appropriate for the children visiting the park. They have now been removed and separated. We hope that in a few days, they will abandon their bad habits and learn new words. However, if they continue to use foul language, I am unsure what we will do next."

So, if you have a parrot at home, think twice before using bad language around it, or you might find your household exposed to some unexpected words.