By Johannes Malinowski
It babbles on every corner. Sultan croaks “Hello!”, Vicki squeaks “Come here!” and Cora whistles “Snow Maiden, Little White Skirt”. Here visitors are talked to everywhere!
Around 70 parrots of 28 species live in the Pappagalli sanctuary run by Kathrin (53) and Siegfried Klaßen (65) in Kloster Lehnin, district of Rädel (Potsdam-Mittelmark).
It all started 20 years ago with a gray parrot that Siegfried gave to his wife for St. Nicholas Day. But a parrot does not feel comfortable alone. This is how the animal family grew over the years. Construction began ten years ago on the one-hectare site in Rädel. The facility celebrated its opening in 2018. There are now 34 spacious aviaries here.
Gray parrot Lilli was delivered with a self-inflicted wound. The ruff is a bite inhibition Photo: Stefanie Herbst
“Many people couldn’t get along with their parrots,” says Siegfried Klaßen. “We took in many tortured, neglected animals in the period that followed.”
Parrot Laura from Cologne has lost feathers. Her owners could not take care of the animal because it was too jealous Photo: Stefanie Herbst
There are only a few comparable sanctuaries in Germany. Seized parrots from all over the country come here to Rädel. The couple finances the business with four employees mostly from their own pockets. This costs around 200,000 euros every year, of which around 25,000 euros are for feed alone. There are only a few donations, in the last four years about 10,000 euros have come in.
34 aviaries belong to the sanctuary. The Klaßen couple built it around the many trees Photo: Stefanie Herbst
“The problem is that we don’t work with cats and dogs,” Klaßen says. The interest in the birds is correspondingly lower.
The large Ara Chico comes from an artist from Neukölln Photo: Stefanie Herbst
The single parrot on the shoulder or next to the grandmother in the wing chair is far from species-appropriate attitude. “Parrots must always be kept in pairs, preferably with conspecifics,” says Siegfried Klaßen. They are highly social animals. It is important that they have an indoor and an outdoor area with sufficient fresh air. The risk of lung diseases is otherwise very high. “Keeping a parrot in your home is a crime against the animal.”
And the chattering parrots? They mostly come from individual husbandry and imitate the words of their former owners.
Actually, the Klassens don’t breed. The endangered hyacinth macaws are an exception. There have already been children three times Photo: Stefanie Herbst