Zoo Buddy: Eclectus Parrot!

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Meet Wesby! He’s an eclectus parrot living the life at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo in Monroe.

This species enjoys the rainforest canopies and the nearby woodlands. You can find them in the Eastern Cape York Peninsula, according to the Australian Museum’s website. That’s a section between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Tori Davis works with Wesby a lot and says he’s a big fan of singing. You’ll notice him sing his name.

She says these parrots are not a big ,fan of loud noises.

The male is bright green, and the female in this species is a darker red.

“They help replenish the rainforest with the seeds from the fruit they eat,” said General Curator Lisa Taylor.

She says you need to do your research if you do adopt one as a pet because they need a specific, low-fat diet.

“The reason for that is their physiology; their digestive tract is longer than any other parrot species,” said Taylor. “You don’t want all that fat building up in them, so that’s why they need to stick to the fruits.”

While construction continues on the new Louisiana Purchase Exhibit, the Reptile Building is closed. Until then, you can request some reptiles at educational programs or birthday parties or you might just see one at the zoo when staff are taking them on a stroll. Call 318-329-2400 for more information.

You can also volunteer with the zoo. Contact the Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society through their Facebook page.

The zoo is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can get tickets to feed the budgies, feed the tortoises, ride the boat, or ride the train at the front office.

Click here for a breakdown of their prices.