Man Attempts To Smuggle Dozens Of Parrot Eggs Through Airport Security, Only To Have Them Hatch In The Process, Could Face Up to 20 Years In Jail

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 5, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Szu Ta Wu, a Chinese National, was stopped at Miami International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol because of some strange squeaky sounds coming out of his bag. Turns out, the officers found more than two dozen undocumented bird eggs in his suitcase, and some were beginning to hatch!

Szu Ta Wu claimed that the birds weren't his, and a friend asked him to bring them from Nicaragua. He should have known that's ill-eagle. So right now, he's stuck in a situation that's un-pheasant and worse than hawk-ward, he could face up to 20 years in prison! The hatching chicks were rushed to Florida International University to save their lives, and luckily, 26 of 29 parrots survived their birth. Happy ending (except for Szu Ta Wu)!

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  • 01
    Font - A Man Smuggling Dozens Of Parrot Eggs Through Airport Security Was Caught When They Began To Hatch
    via all_thats_interesting
  • 02
    Bird
    via all_thats_interesting
  • 03
    Font - all_thats_interesting Security personnel at Miami International Airport were recently examining incoming passengers' bags when officers heard something unusual coming from one man's carry- on: chirping. The noisy bag belonged to Chinese national Szu Ta Wu, who was stopped at the checkpoint while changing flights between Nicaragua and Taiwan. Customs officers then asked him what was inside and he revealed that it was an egg. But upon opening the bag, security officers discovered that he wa
    via all_thats_interesting

    Where does one even get 29 parrot eggs? This guy really chose something very strange to smuggle. He couldn't know that they were going to hatch soon, but maybe next time choose something that won't make so much noise!

  • 04
    Bird
    via National Audubon Society
  • 05
    Photograph
    via Florida International University

    We're happy to report that a majority of the chicks lived after their traumatic pre-birth experience. Parrots can live up to 70 years, so now the hard job is to find them homes where they can live and not be a pest to their environment.

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    Cap - adidas RSCF
    via Florida International University
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    Font - According to the Associated Press, the smuggler, a Chinese national named, Szu Ta Wu, was stopped at a checkpoint as he attempted to change flights between Managua, Nicaragua, and Taiwan. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers asked him to explain the sound coming from his luggage, and Wu revealed an egg. Upon closer inspection, the officers found two dozen more eggs — and that they were starting to hatch. In all, Wu had 29 eggs with him. He admitted that he didn't have documentation
    via Kaleena Fraga
  • 08
    Font - As USA Today reports, the chicks and soon-to- be chicks - were placed in the care of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF), which is associated with Florida International University (FIU). "At that point we were off to the races,” Paul Reillo, a Florida International University professor and the director of the foundation, told the Associated Press. “We've got all these eggs, the chicks are hatching, the incubator's running and by the time it was all said and done, we hatched 26
    via Kaleena Fraga
  • 09
    Font - His next task is to find a suitable home for the parrots, who can live up to 70 years. USA Today reports that it's likely not possible to return them home to Central America, as they've been hand- reared and political issues would complicate their repatriation. "Parrots live a long time. They are sentient creatures. They're highly intelligent, very social, and these guys deserve a chance," Reillo said. "The question will be where will they wind up? What is their journey going to be? It's
    via Kaleena Fraga
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    Bird
    via Florida International University
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    Font - shattereddreamsfla Didn't think this through, didja?
    via shattereddreamsfla

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crazy news birds jail airport eggs true story story bird illegal prison animals parrot
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