Lincolnshire Wildlife Park: Plot to 'dilute' parrots' swearing is working

A wildlife park's high-risk approach to tackling its parrots' swearing problem appears to be working.

In January, Lincolnshire Wildlife Park said it planned to introduce the eight problem birds, who were in isolation, to the rest of the flock to "dilute" the swearing.

Boss Steve Nichols said at the time he could end up with 100 swearing parrots.

However, after two weeks of the reintegration plan, keepers said they had not heard any colourful language.

Mr Nichols said: "It's early days still but it's been a good start. We haven't heard any of the really crude language.

"Of course people are still walking up to the enclosure and swearing in front of the parrots, hoping they will copy the words."

Mr Nichols said he hoped, over time, the swearing birds would copy more appropriate vocabulary and noises from the remainder of the flock.

For now, signs warning people of a sensitive nature about the birds' swearing habit remain in place, he added.

After the BBC first told of the plan to clean up the parrots' language, Mr Nichols said he had gone on to do a further 53 interviews with media outlets from "more than 40 countries".

He said: "It's appeared in the media in New Zealand, the US, Japan you name it. It's certainly caused a real stir."

Mr Nichols said while the parrots may have dropped their swearing, a new problem appears to be brewing.

"One of them has taken to singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas over and over again," he said. "Fine in December, not so fine in February."

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