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Police snap parrot going at 1.5 times speed limit

Police in Zweibrücken in western Germany were puzzled when their speed trap was set off although no cars were on the road. But they were even more surprised to see what had triggered it.

Published: 13 May 2016 10:15 CEST
Police snap parrot going at 1.5 times speed limit
Photo: Polizei Zweibrücken

Two traffic officers were manning a speed trap in the small town in Rhineland-Palatinate on Thursday morning, local police reported.

At around 10am, the device activated without the slightest sign of a car anywhere to be seen – leaving the officers scratching their heads.

But as the pair studied the photos taken by the trap's camera, puzzlement turned to laughter as they spotted a parrot racing through the air.

As it flew close to the ground, the exotic bird had reached a speed of 43 km/h – almost 1.5 times the 30 km/h speed limit in the area.


The parrots of Zweibrücken are at home in the Rosengarten park. Photo: Wikipedia

Parrots are no strangers to Zweibrücken, with several species reportedly calling the town home and living in the Rosengarten park.

Although they know the parrot's address, police concluded that “it is still not determined who should pay the €15 fine that's due.”

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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