Man Remains Stuck On His Property With 200 Birds Since It's Technically 'Illegal¡¯ For Him To Leave

Ever thought what it would be like to be trapped in a cage? Seems like this man is sort of stuck in one.

Majid ¡®Magic¡¯ Esmaeili lives in and operates a bird sanctuary near Tampa Bay, Florida, but due to a property dispute with his neighbor, it¡¯s technically 'illegal¡¯ for him to leave.

Tampa Bay Times

At Zaksee Parrot Sanctuary in Tampa, Florida, that Esmaeili owns and operates, he takes care of hundreds of rescued parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and other exotic birds. The sanctuary is surrounded on all sides by other properties and the only path out is through an area where the neighbours have placed locks thereby trapping Esmaeili on his property.

¡°I have absolutely no way to get out,¡± he told Fox 13.

According to Tampa Bay Times, Esmaeili ran out of food recently but has been surviving on bananas and bamboo shoots that grow in the sanctuary.

Him and his birds¡¯ source of food came in the form of volunteers who were either senior citizens or students from nearby colleges. However, since the coronavirus pandemic began these volunteers are no where to be seen. Esmaeili thinks it might be months before his student volunteers come back to the university.

Also Read: Exotic Bird Makes Its Television Debut, Lands On News Anchor's Head During Live Broadcast

Tampa Bay Times

Esmaeili bought the property for the sanctuary from Lynda Fowler, who has a business of her own next door: In the Breeze Farms Inc. That is a ranch and horseback riding center that offers programs for children. Esmaeili said, Fowler and he had an understanding that he could use a path on her ranch to get to and from his sanctuary.

Fowler reportedly said that she got tired of Esmaeili for being a bad neighbour, and decided to lock her gate as retribution.

¡°I operate a horseback riding ranch and children¡¯s camp, and he jumps out of the woods looking like a madman, because he lives back there, and he makes the children cry,¡± Tampa Bay Times quoted her as saying.

Also Read: Karnataka High Court Settles A Century-Old Land Dispute Involving Mysuru Royals

Fox 13

Fowler won the recent court battle, but Esmaeili and his lawyers, intend to appeal the case.

¡°Let¡¯s say he is trying to repair something and breaks his leg. It¡¯s technically illegal for him to leave his property. Yet if he calls an ambulance, that ambulance will use the road he built with his bare hands and drive across the In the Breeze property and pick him up,¡± his lawyer Samuel Alexander said.

Currently, Esmaeili is raising money to through GoFundMe page to buy food and other things. Till now he has raised over $3,000 from over 100 donors.