Heartbreaking update after authorities seized Molly the Magpie - as wildlife expert reveals why the bird should not be returned to owners

The former owners of a world-famous magpie have shared an emotional plea to have the bird returned home.

Molly the magpie became a social media phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells and her partner Reese Mortenson documented the unlikely 'interspecies friendship' between the bird and their pair of Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.

But Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson, who live in Coomera on the Gold Coast, were left heartbroken on 1 March when authorities seized Molly over allegations the bird was being 'kept unlawfully'. 

Now, Ms Wells has made a heartbreaking plea to have Molly returned home, pleading for a 'positive outcome'.  

'They came and told us they wanted to take you away,' she said in a voiceover to a video of Molly, who is actually male, playing with Peggy and Ruby in their garden. 

'We couldn’t even picture what that would be like. I will never forget that day.'

'If Molly had a voice what would he say? If Molly had a choice where would he stay?'

Officials from Queensland's Department of Science, Environment and Innovation (DESI) had concerns the couple had no permit to keep the bird which they claimed belongs in the wild.

It comes a few days after Queensland Premier Steven Miles waded into the row amid a public outcry, giving his backing to an emotional trans-species reunion.

'The environment department stands ready to train Molly's parents to be wildlife carers, to get that certification, so Molly can be reunited with the family,' Premier Miles said on Thursday.   

Mr Miles said he wanted authorities to help the family get a permit and rejected suggestions that the decision would set a bad precedent.

'What I'm most interested in here is what's in the best interests of that animal, and if the department can work with the family to reunite them in a way that is legal, I would support that,' he added.  

'I think sometimes common sense needs to prevail and in this instance ensuring that they can legally take care of Molly is the best outcome for Molly.

'I think if you look at the story there is a better outcome possible. I don't want to see any of the rules broken, but there has to be a way within the rules to see Molly live out a happy life with her family.'  

Despite the Premier's intervention, the couple claimed in a post on Sunday that they have not heard anything directly.

'To date we have not heard anything directly, we don't know where Molly is or what the outcome will be,' they wrote. 

Several petitions to return Molly to the family have gained just under 130,000 signatures.

The couple claim they rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020. 

Molly was originally thought to be a female by Ms Wells, but is actually a male and the name stuck.

Videos of Molly playing with the couples two Staffies soon gained traction online and grew a loyal fanbase.

'Juliette has a passion for photography and she posted some pictures of Molly having fun with the dogs, but we never expected this to go viral,' Mr Mortenson said previously.

The couple 'voluntarily surrendered' Molly to DESI on 1 March.  

Queensland legislation bans native wild animals from being domesticated because of the possible impact on wildlife. 

Animals that are sick, orphaned or injured can only be rescued and cared for by those who hold a rehabilitation permit and intend to release them back into the wild.

However, the couple claim they did not look after Molly in the way a pet owner might look after a Cockatoo or a Parrot, insisting instead that the bird is free to fly around and forage for food.

Ms Wells was first asked to surrender Molly six months ago when authorities visited her home but she was unable to capture the bird as it was in a tree.

Previously, DESI said that Molly could not fly like a normal magpie.

'Unfortunately, it has been highly habituated to human contact and is not capable of being released back into the wild,' a spokesperson for DESI said.

However, not everyone is in favour of Molly being returned.

One wildlife carer, who asked to remain anonymous, told 7NEWS.com.au the magpie 'shouldn't be returned' to the home despite a huge online push for the reunion. 

Another carer said there were strict laws they had to follow and their status as carers did not even guarantee their right to keep an animal.

'At the end of the day, if one person is allowed to do this, what's stopping every other Tom, Dick and Harry keeping a pet magpie, a joey or having a kangaroo hopping around in their backyard,' the carer told the publication.   

Wildlife carers who oppose the move to reunite Molly are reportedly being sent death threats and abusive comments.