In the four years since their unlikely bond was posted online, the odd couple has attracted almost two million followers on Instagram and Facebook. But in an emotional video posted online Tuesday, Peggy’s owners, Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen, announced that the animals had been separated. Wildlife officials worried that others would follow their lead of domesticating wild animals in the hope of profiting online. Followers are being urged to write to their local member of parliament and the director general of the department. Bernard Ashcroft, CEO of Wildlife Rescue Australia, said the law prohibits people from taking wild animals as pets, for good reason.

---

Persons: Australia CNN —, Peggy, Molly ”, Molly, Juliette Wells, Reece Mortensen, ”, Wells, “, Darryl Jones, Molly didn’t, “ Peggy, Mortensen, DESI, Jones, Australia – “, “ It’s, ” Jones, Bernard Ashcroft Organizations: Australia CNN, Facebook, DES – Department of Science, Department of Science, Griffith University, CNN, Australia –, Wildlife Rescue Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Staffordshire, Australian, crazily