5 Parrots Were Separated At A Zoo Because They Kept Swearing At Visitors. 5 Parrots were Separated At A Zoo Because They Kept Swearing At Visitors And Laughing Together. The X post references a real 2020 incident at a British wildlife sanctuary where five African grey parrots were separated due to their synchronized swearing at visitors, a behavior linked to their exceptional mimicry skills and social nature, as noted in a CBS News report. Scientific studies, such as those in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, highlight that African grey parrots have cognitive abilities rivaling a 4-6-year-old human child, enabling them to learn and reinforce complex vocalizations like profanity when grouped, which likely amplified their disruptive behavior. The separation reflects a common zoo practice of managing social animals to reduce stress or behavioral issues, though research from Ballard Brief suggests such interventions can cause emotional distress in highly social species, challenging the narrative that zoos always prioritize animal welfare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL2Lb0sZrYk?si=AjmSE9IBTS7vorXx