Douglas (parrot) facts for kids
| Species | Scarlet macaw |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Hatched | 1967 Brazil |
| Died | (aged 51) Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable role | Rosalinda (Pippi in the South Seas) |
| Mate(s) | Gojan (2005–2016; her death) |
Douglas (born around 1967 – died February 23, 2019) was a famous male scarlet macaw. He played the parrot Rosalinda in the 1970 Pippi Longstocking movie, Pippi in the South Seas.
Douglas came from Brazil to Sweden in 1967, three years before he became a movie star. He was a clever parrot who could sing and even speak a few dozen words in Swedish!
Douglas the Movie Star Macaw
Douglas became famous for his role as Rosalinda in the Pippi in the South Seas film. This movie was released in 1970. Many people loved watching Douglas on screen.
A Famous Parrot's Troubles
Years after the movie, in 2002, Douglas faced some trouble. Swedish authorities thought about putting him to sleep. This was because his owner did not have all the right papers for him.
But many people wanted to save Douglas! A special request to save his life got over 50,000 signatures. Even Inger Nilsson, the actress who played Pippi, signed it. Luckily, Douglas was saved when his first owner found the correct import papers. These papers showed Douglas had come to Sweden legally in 1967.
A New Home in Germany
In 2005, Douglas moved to a small tropical zoo in Malmö, Sweden. There, he lived with another macaw named Gojan, who was a female blue-and-yellow macaw.
In 2016, Douglas faced another problem. Authorities thought his cage was too small. They said it was only three square meters, and Douglas needed a much bigger space to fly. The zoo could not build a 30-square-meter aviary. The zoo director, Frank Madsen, explained that Douglas was 49 years old and could not fly much anymore. He felt it was unfair to cut Douglas's life short.
When authorities would not change their minds, the zoo asked the public for help. Soon, over 100 places offered to give Douglas and Gojan a new home! The Karlsruhe Zoo in Germany was chosen. In April, Douglas and Gojan traveled to Karlsruhe. They were welcomed with a big public party.
Gojan passed away in September 2016 at age 45. Douglas then got a new friend, Rubin, a 22-year-old scarlet macaw. Douglas lived happily at the Karlsruhe Zoo until he died naturally on February 23, 2019. He was 51 years old.
- Klaus Esterluß: A movie star's sunset years. Deutsche Welle, 12 May 2016
