Wildlife park hatches risky plot to 'dilute' swearing problem among its parrots by putting them with the rest of the flock

Staff removed parrots from display for squawking expletives at visitors in 2020However, three more parrots at the site have also begun swearing since then 

A wildlife park has hatched a risky plot to ‘dilute’ a swearing problem among its parrots – yet could find itself with 100 foul-mouthed feathered friends.

Five African greys at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park rose to fame in 2020 after staff removed them from display for squawking expletives at visitors.

However, three more parrots at the site have also begun swearing since then, forcing staff to take drastic measures to address the problem.

Chief executive Steve Nichols has said staff will be introducing all eight prolific swearers to the rest of the flock in an attempt to ‘dilute’ the swearing.

Mr Nichols told the BBC: ‘Ultimately, I think the swearing will be diluted.

An African grey parrot, one of five at Lincolnshire Wildlife Centre who were separated after ‘setting each other off’ with bad language

Five African greys at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park rose to fame in 2020 after staff removed them from display for squawking expletives at visitors (File Photo)

‘I’m hoping, above the general noise of the flock, the swearing will be drowned out.’

However, addressing the possibility of the other parrots picking up the bad habit, he admitted: ‘We could end up with 100 swearing parrots on our hands.

‘Only time will tell.’

The wildlife park hopes mixing the swearing parrots with the rest of the flock will also teach them to copy more appropriate vocabulary and noises.

Mr Nichols added: ‘We have about 30 birds who make the beeping sound that a reversing lorry makes.

‘Hopefully, the rest will pick up on that and there will be less swearing..’

He doubts, however, that the parrots will stop swearing altogether, saying ‘once it’s in their vocabulary, it’s usually there for good’.

A disclaimer notice on the swearing parrots’ enclosure at the park tells visitors of how all five of the African greys that arrived in 2020 had their ‘own repertoire of ‘Blue Language’.

A sign at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park warning people of the swearing parrots

Chief executive Steve Nichols has said staff will be introducing all eight prolific swearers to the rest of the flock in an attempt to ‘dilute’ the swearing (File Photo)

Three more parrots at the site have also begun swearing since then, forcing staff to take drastic measures to address the problem (File Photo)

The notice reads: ‘For your information, every common swear word can be heard in this aviary so please be aware if you have people with you of a sensitive nature.

‘All five had their own repertoire of ‘Blue Language’, and within a very short time it sounded like an old mans working club in that room, as they all let out variations of foul language, followed by laughs, again by the parrots.

‘We have integrated them with a group of Greys… in the hope that they will pick those sounds and words up… and drop the foul language.’

The five original parrots, named Billy, Tyson, Eric, Jade and Elsie, became the park’s star attraction after the news of the swearing went viral during the pandemic.

The three additional swearers include another called Eric, and two others called Captain and Sheila.