- Title: Squawking parrot warns the world: 'Coronavirus! Don't go out!'
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) LUCA THE PARROT CLIMBING ON ITS BAWL HOLDER LUCA'S OWNER ZEHAVA SHABAT LOOKING AT THE PARROT LUCA THE PARROT SQUAWKING IN HEBREW "THERE IS CORONA" MORE OF LUCA THE PARROT SQUAWKING IN HEBREW "THERE IS CORONA, BYE LUCA", MOVING ITS HEAD LUCA THE PARROT SQUAWKING IN HEBREW "IT'S DANGEROUS, IT'S DANGEROUS" LUCA THE PARROT MOVING ITS HEAD, SQUAWKING "BYE LUCA" PARROT GETTING ONTO SHABAT'S ARM (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) OWNER OF LUCA THE PARROT, 53-YEAR-OLD ZEHAVA SHABAT FROM THE NORTHERN ISRAELI CITY OF KIRYAT SHMONA, SAYING: "We are of course at home, in lockdown, so every day we teach her a word or two and proceed (with our business). I told my husband Motti - 'Motti let's do something with the coronavirus, we have to do it'. It takes between three to four to five days until she catches it. Then one morning, two days ago, we hear her calling - "Zehava, there is coronavirus! it's dangerous!" SHABAT KISSING THE PARROT, WHICH BITES HER BACK (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) OWNER OF LUCA THE PARROT, 53-YEAR-OLD ZEHAVA SHABAT FROM THE NORTHERN ISRAELI CITY OF KIRYAT SHMONA, SAYING: "By saying 'coronavirus' and 'it's dangerous', Luca is actually conveying a message for the children, mostly to the children who watch the parrot... us grownups are obviously aware, but mainly for kids, when they see a parrot, the message is (being perceived in a) positive manner." A PERSON WAVING AT LUCA PERCHING ON SHABAT'S SHOULDER LUCA PERCHING ON SHABAT'S SHOULDER
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 15:38
- Keywords: Health Israel coronavirus talking parrot
- Location: KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL
- City: KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Human-Led Quirky,Human-Led Stories
- Reuters ID: LVA002C6EUNGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A talking parrot in Israel has a playful message for a world gripped by the coronavirus crisis: "Don't go out!"
In crystal-clear Hebrew, Luca the parrot squawks "there is corona" and "don't go out", repeatedly echoing official health warnings.
Israel has ordered people to stay at home to slow the contagion's spread and billboards reinforce the message in Hebrew and Arabic.
The 22-month-old grey parrot began to mimic the words after training with its owners, who like many Israelis have been alarmed by their country's more than 1,600 cases and one death.
Zehava Shabat says she and her husband spent several days teaching the bird the new words while holed up in their home in Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel.
"Then, one morning, two days ago, we hear her saying: Zehava, there is corona! It's dangerous!"
Shabat, 53, says Luca may help children cope with the crisis.
"For kids, when they see a parrot, the message is (being perceived in a) positive manner," she said.
(Prodcution: Eli Berlzon, Lee Marzel) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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