Kola the raven returns safely to Ecomuseum Zoo
Officials still baffled why injured bird was stolen from aviary in November
It's official: Kola is back safe and sound at the Ecomuseum Zoo in Ste-anne-de-bellevue.
Kola was recovered Saturday after police were notified that a plastic container containing a bird was left on the side of Anse-à-l'orme Rd. in Kirkland.
Kola disappeared after an overnight break-in Nov. 23 at the zoo. Nothing else was apparently stolen.
David Rodrigue, the Ecomuseum's executive director, is relieved the bird has been found in good condition.
“It's nice for this to have a happy ending,” he said. “We couldn't believe it happened at first, so this makes all of us at the zoo feel much better.”
Rodrigue said the zoo had to verify if the bird that was recovered was, in fact, Kola.
“A raven is a raven is a raven, but we knew Kola's left wing was injured and some other (peculiar) things about him that could help identify him.”
Rodrigue said Kola's chances of surviving outside the Ecomuseum were slim because he had difficulty flying and required special care, including a special medication for a renal condition.
He has no doubts the bird was deliberately targeted.
“It wasn't an accident. They actually broke into the site, and you have to break in if you want to make it inside. Then they broke into the aviary itself, where the raven was.”
As for intent, Rodrigue remains baffled.
“Was the bird actually stolen? Was it done to take the bird and release him? We can't tell at this point. If the police investigation is successful, I guess we would know, but there is no way to know at this point.”
The Ecomuseum aviary has a large collection of birds and raptors. The zoo is more like a refuge for orphaned, injured or distressed mammals, reptiles and amphibians. It also cares for animals like otters, bear, wolves, fox and lynx.
With so many other birds in the aviary, why was a common raven targeted?
“It's a very good question. We've been asking ourselves the same thing,” Rodrigue said. “Why that one? We really don't know.”
But whoever committed the raven caper certainly knew what they were doing, Rodrigue added.
“Where they broke in, there are two ways you can make it to where that bird was, and one way has no cameras along it, so ... I say `they' and we don't even know that.”
He said the police investigation will determine, hopefully, if the break-in was possibly an inside job.
“We've really investigated that a lot and now the official investigation is doing that, as well. I don't think so; I hope not. Of course we ask ourselves the same question ... but there is a targeted feel to it.”
Ste-anne-de-bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa said there was a huge outpouring of both anger toward the perpetrator(s) and sympathy for Kola.
“I'm no expert on human psychology, but I think during this whole COVID period, we're all a little bit more sensitive to things like this happening, especially something so innocent and pure as an animal refuge.” she said.
“The Ecomuseum is a place many people hold close to their heart. The outpouring is from people upset and so outraged by the senselessness of it. It's so bizarre. When you put it in context, when would the police on the island of Montreal ever be called because of a stolen bird? It just goes with 2020.”
Rodrigue said the bird's disappearance made an already difficult situation at the zoo even more stressful.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the zoo's temporary closure has necessitated staff reductions. About 34 employees remain, including 14 animal keepers essential to animal care.
“Everyone here is dedicated to those animals, and it's through them we have our mission,” Rodrigue said. “But when you think about the animal keepers, we've got 14 people every single day of their lives caring for those animals. They grow very attached to them.”
Rodrigue is hoping for better days ahead in 2021, now that Kola is back home and safe.