Our Bossy Feathered Supervisor

Posted on Mon August 25, 2025.

If you’ve ever wandered into our Valley of Ancients Temple, chances are you’ve already met Boo, our African Grey Parrot with a personality far bigger than his wingspan. According to one of his devoted caregivers, Pippa Fourie, “Boo is the friendliest little chap. He will always come over to say hi. He loves his head scratches and believes the world turns for him, which it does. It’s his world, we just live here.”

Boo is more than a parrot. He’s the ultimate supervisor. Whenever work is being done in the temple, Boo insists on being involved. But there’s a catch: before anything gets done, he demands his scratches first. Only then does he allow the humans to carry on with their tasks. With his confident attitude and undeniable charm, Boo embodies the spirit of African Greys, intelligent, social, and full of character.
 

African Greys are widely regarded as the most intelligent parrot species. Studies show they can develop vocabularies of over 200 words and even understand concepts like shapes, colors, and numbers.

They are natural mimics, often imitating the voices, sounds, and even laughter of their human companions with uncanny accuracy. In the wild, African Greys are found in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. Their diet includes fruits, seeds, nuts, and leafy matter.

Sadly, they are endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. Their popularity as companion birds has led to significant declines in wild populations.

At Cango Wildlife Ranch, Boo serves a different purpose. He is more than an ambassador for his species. He is a living reminder of the importance of conservation. His charm draws people in, but his presence tells a bigger story: one about protecting parrots in the wild and ensuring future generations get to meet them too.

For now, Boo is perfectly happy ruling his temple, soaking up scratches, and reminding us daily that sometimes the loudest voices come in the smallest packages.

Further Reading

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At Cango Wildlife Ranch, every day offers new lessons in conservation, care, and connection. Through our Wild Animal Volunteers (WAV) Internship Programme and partnerships with organisations like Loop Abroad, students from across the globe gain first-hand exposure to the vital veterinary work that underpins wildlife conservation.

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A Fresh Upgrade: Our New Cold Meat Storage Facility Thu August 28, 2025

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A Birthday to Remember Wed August 27, 2025

When we launched our Like, Share & Subscribe competition on social media, we were blown away by the enthusiasm and support from our community. After all the entries, we were thrilled to announce Anchen Killian as our lucky winner. Even more special, she chose to redeem her prize on her birthday on 13 August when she celebrated her 56th year.

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