Photo: CBS 12
West Palm Beach Police are looking for a bird napper.
Police spokesman Mike Jachles says 8-year old Catherine, a lorikeet, was stolen from her habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo.
"Zoo officials determined that on the 23rd when they did their daily count, Catherine was there. But on the 24th of April when they did their count for that day, they were missing Catherine."
It's believed the small and colorful parrot was taken from the zoo's Lorikeet Loft, where visitors walk through and feed the birds.
"You know it's unfortunate that this birdbrain took the bird."
The zoo searched everywhere and even checked to ensure there were no holes in the aviary and didn't find any.
Police are watching surveillance video to catch the crook. It's a third-degree felony to steal an animal from a zoo in Florida.
Zoo officials say Catherine has a value in the black market of about $500.
They're concerned for her safety and health. Lorikeets eat a specialized diet of various fruits, pollen and nectar. Also, the birds live in pairs and mate for life. If Catherine is on her own, there are concerns for her well-being.
A Goeldi's monkey was stolen from the zoo in 2019, but was recovered in good health, albeit dehydrated.