The parrot fell into the Magdalena River…
My brother rescued him by swimming, and the parrot was injured. Because of my love for animals, I begged my parents to let us keep him so we could heal him.

We brought him home without knowing all that would happen. From then on, we called him Stiven, but every time we said “Stiven,” he got angry and replied:

—No… Yoe.

From that moment on, we called him Yoe.

The early days

At just 12 years old, I was always looking after him. I remembered the myth my parents used to say:

“When a parrot doesn’t like you, it damages your things or does whatever it can to show it.”

I didn’t want that, so I was the one who cared for him the most. Over time, we formed a bond of love. I’d come home from school and bathe him. Every day, I searched for healthy recipes for parrots… I began researching all his needs.

His cage—1 m × 1 m—was only used for sleeping. During the day, he wandered around; he even got into the pots because he liked rice, though I wouldn’t let him. Yoe was in very good shape: every morning he would fly into my room and say:

—Hi, my love.

I grew as fond of him as I’ve ever been of anyone.

The problems

Everything was lovely until Yoe started “attacking” my mom. We lived in an apartment: the kitchen was next to the balcony… Yoe would fly and bite her. We decided to cage him every time she came home from work.

Years passed. In 2021, already in tenth grade, I started wondering what to study. I’d always loved animals; having Yoe for over eight years taught me that it’s worth learning about them and valuing them. I discovered that Biology had everything I wanted.

Dilemma and decision

Yoe would remain caged during vacations when my mom was home; it hurt me to see him like that. While researching with the District Environmental Office, I learned they offered stability, care, and medical evaluations. Since July 2021, I kept thinking about it: I questioned what was right… love wouldn’t let me imagine my afternoons without his cries.

The process took two years to be approved. I got a scholarship to study Biology: my goal was to participate in his rehabilitation. But when I started university, I had less time; my family didn’t care for him well. I cried seeing him locked up.

On June 8, 2024, I called the agency. They scheduled Yoe’s pickup. On Thursday, 7:30 a.m., they arrived with a truck and a cage. I hugged him, trying not to cry, but Yoe grabbed me with his foot… he didn’t want to leave. I signed the permits; he was given a medical evaluation (we never clipped his wings).

Emptiness and news

In the following days, I didn’t hear his cries at 6 a.m.; emptiness came. I submitted an inquiry: they replied he was a very active parrot and peacefully coexisted with others. I was happy… it had been the right thing to do.

In August 2024, I submitted another inquiry. The letter said that on July 4, Yoe had died.

The news crushed me; I asked myself if it had all been worth it. I cried… but I understood: animals belong to nature, not to us. I’m at peace: I cared for him like no one else and looked after his wellbeing.

Without a doubt, he taught me to love my career. For the sake of study… and for him… I will finish.