World-famous magpie Molly is handed over to the authorities after bombshell allegations are made against ‘owner’ with two million followers

A world-famous magpie has been surrendered to authorities after allegations that she had been ‘kept unlawfully’. 

Molly became a a global phenomenon when Juliette Wells, a blogger from Coomera in Queensland, started telling the story of the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between Molly the magpie and a pair of Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.

The trio shot to fame, attracting two million followers across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and starred in a book filled with photos of the unlikely companions. 

Fans have gushed over the ‘very special’ relationship between Molly, Peggy and Ruby.

But wildlife rescue organisations questioned why Ms Wells was taking a native Australian bird into her home to play with her dogs on camera.

Queensland legislation bans domesticating native wild animals because of the possible impact on the creature in the wild.

But Ms Wells denied the bird was being kept in captivity and had been taken in by her family when it was apparently abandoned in 2020.

‘We don’t “care” for him in the way people have cockatoos or parrots in cages,’ her publicist told Yahoo News Australia. 

‘Once he was well enough, we taught him how to forage for food in the garden, we taught him to fly and be independent.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Wells for further comment.

Queensland’s Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) confirmed a magpie was ‘voluntarily surrendered’ to officials on March 1.

‘It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and kept unlawfully, with no permit, licence or authority being issued by DESI,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘All Queensland native animals are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. To keep a native animal that originates from the wild, a person must have a permit, licence or authority to lawfully have the animal in their possession.’

In Queensland, animals that are sick, orphaned or injured can only be rescued and cared for by those who hold a rehabilitation permit and intend to release them back into the wild. 

‘Animals in rehabilitation must not associate with domestic animals due to the potential for them to be subjected to stress and the risks of behavioural imprinting and transmission of diseases,’ the spokesperson added. 

‘Animals from the wild, must stay wild.’ 

Ms Wells took Molly home in 2020, suspecting she had been abandoned by her parents. 

She believes the magpie ‘looked really weak and not well at all’ but made a full recovery.

Ms Wells was first asked to surrender the bird six months ago when authorities visited her home but she was unable to capture the bird as it was in a tree.

She has continued sharing videos of Molly and her dogs on social media, despite Molly having now been surrendered, most recently posting the pair lounging on a dog bed.

DESI is currently focused on finding a home for Molly, who now can’t fly like a normal magpie would.

‘Unfortunately, it has been highly habituated to human contact and is not capable of being released back into the wild,’ the spokesperson said.

‘A process is currently underway to have the magpie placed at a suitable facility.’

Investigations are ongoing.