Gemma Watkinson holds obese female Laughing Kookaburra by Tim Wimborne

A Laughing Kookaburra in Australia was rescued and sent to bird bootcamp after becoming too fat to fly.

The bird’s weight soared because it was being fed meat from people having picnics and barbeques at a park in Mosman, Australia.

Gemma Watkinson from the Taronga wildlife hospital said:

Out in the wild she’d eat a whole small animal such as a mouse or skink, but butcher’s sausages are just too much of a good thing.

The bird was seen at Rawson Park being chased by dogs. When it was discovered that the bird was unable to fly to escape, a caring individual rescued the bird and took it to Taronga. At first, it was believed the bird couldn’t fly because of a broken wing. Later at the hospital, no fractures were found and the real reason was discovered.

Gemma said:

I’ve seen many kookaburras, but never before have I seen one so fat. It turned out that it was simply too obese to fly.

Weighing in at 1.2 pounds (545 grams), the Laughing Kookaburra was about 40% heavier than a normal adult. So the bird was started on a strict diet and exercise program.

Gemma said:

The kookaburra’s been down at the rehabilitation aviary for a couple of weeks on a special “lite ‘n easy” diet designed by our bird keeper.

Exercising up to three times a day with a personal trainer, the bird is well on her way to be released back into the wild!