Molly the Magpie is finally coming home: Premier gives an update on fate of beloved bird after ignoring owner’s calls

The Queensland Premier has announced Molly the Magpie will be reunited with his owners just hours after they accused him of ‘ignoring’ their pleas for help.

Molly, who shot to fame for his ‘interspecies friendship’ with two Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby, was removed from the Gold Coast home of Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson on March 1.

The couple accused Premier Steven Miles of ignoring their calls and emails after he initially shared his support for the return of the Instagram-famous bird.

In a major update on Wednesday morning, Mr Miles announced that Molly would be reunited with his canine friends ‘very soon’ in a statement.

‘This morning the department has advised me that the couple can secure the appropriate licence. The team will work with them to do that now,’ he said.

‘It’s good news and means Molly can come home very soon.’

The premier thanked those who had advocated for Molly’s return and said the magpie was in great spirits and receiving good care.

The breakthrough comes just hours after the couple claimed that their calls and emails to the premier’s office were going unanswered.

On Tuesday, Ms Wells posted a video of her dog Ruby whining.

‘Ruby is disappointed. What is taking soo long? MR QLD STEVEN MILES said he was going to help bring Molly to me but he’s not answering my emails or phone calls. I don’t understand why?’ she wrote in the caption.

‘If he does get back to me I’m going to tell him WOOF I’m NOT Happy, I miss my bestie and think about him everyday.’

Just four days earlier, the couple told their 800,000 Instagram followers they had plans to meet with the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to discuss the best path forward for Molly.

‘The department is moving forward and trying to get the legal frameworks in place for a positive solution,’ they wrote.

‘We are confident that with the right training, support, and licences, we can make this happen. We need to keep pushing forward together and keep the emails rolling.’

The couple said life was ‘quiet’ without Molly’s warbles, but DESI officials had assured them the magpie was healthy and in good spirits.

Juliete and Reese say they rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020.

Molly was originally thought to be a female by Ms Wells, but is actually a male and the name stuck.

Videos of Molly playing with the couple’s two Staffies soon gained traction online and grew a loyal fanbase.

Queensland legislation bans native wild animals from being domesticated because of the possible impact on wildlife.

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.

However, the couple claim they did not look after Molly in the way a pet owner might look after a Cockatoo or a Parrot, insisting instead that the bird is free to fly around and forage for food.

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

Daily Mail Australia has contacted DESI and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for comment.