It seemed like an ordinary day on June 27. Mahim resident Ranjeet Keluskar was cleaning his pet parrot Alex’s cage in the afternoon. The African Grey Congo bird and Keluskar’s other Grey African Parrot, Sweety, who is still at home, were ‘conversing’ in their ‘avian’ lingo. Since cleaning was on, the cage door was slightly ajar, said Keluskar, indicating the spot inside his home from where his pet Alex, who goes by the nickname ‘Pappu’, flew from.

“I have two nets outside the balcony.  There was painting work going on in my building. The painters had removed those nets, I had unfortunately not noticed, and Alex was out of his cage and flew out of the balcony in a trice,” said Keluskar. “From then on, it has been an absolute, desperate hunt for Pappu,” said Keluskar, using Alex’s nickname.

Ranjeet Keluskar with Sweety, his other African Grey Congo Parrot, at his home. Pics/ATUL KAMBLE