He Just Wanted A Photo — But The Bird Wanted SO Much More

<p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY">YouTube/BBC</a><span></span> </p>
<p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY">YouTube/BBC</a><span></span> </p>

The charismatic kakapo is one of the rarest parrots in the world - but let's hope they're not all as bad at choosing mates as this little guy is.

Actor Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine were overjoyed when they had an opportunity to meet the comic-looking bird in person a few years ago. Sirocco the kakapo was too - but in quite a different way.

Perhaps it was the green shirt, or maybe he was just flattered by all the attention, but when Carwardine bent down to take a picture of the bird, Sirocco took the opportunity to scamper up his arm and settle onto his head.

YouTube/BBC

What follows is an incredible sequence as Carwardine and his team try to hold it together - while a critically endangered bird makes passionate overtures to his head.

YouTube/BBC
YouTube/BBC

"Look, he's so happy!" Fry exclaims.

YouTube/BBC

The happy bird is eventually removed, and though Carwardine is left bleeding from the bird's tight grip, Fry can't help but congratulate him on his dedication to conservation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you've seen a television first," he says. "You've seen Mark Carwardine, who's devoted his life to conserving animals, actually taking an active part in the conservation and breeding of a whole new generation."

The video of the encounter is below - and it's worth watching both for the commentary and to see one of the most endearing little birds on the planet.

click to play video