Aucklanders are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a cockatoo that's escaped from the zoo.
Late yesterday, Auckland Zoo bird-keepers were carrying out a free-flight training session with young male red-tail black cockatoo Mabo, just outside his enclosure, when he fled his minders.
The young bird had been "doing brilliantly" in what was just his second session outside, before a group of gulls mobbed and spooked him, the zoo reported on social media.
"As a result, he flew up into the trees. He's very bonded to his keepers, was talking to them and made several unsuccessful attempts to get down; he hasn't quite yet mastered his ability to fly low."
![People who encounter Mabo are asked not to try to catch him, but to phone zoo staff. Photo / Facebook](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/RI4ES5LVEJPCDHESR5SDURBUJE.jpg?auth=f2a95c8eb53337ce73b6416934da67d523f5bd83a82ca215ff9870fe734bf0b7&width=16&height=29&quality=70&smart=true)