Spitalfields City Farm's baby seagull makes quite a splash

GULLIVER has the most luxurious diet of any seagull in the East End as he chows down on hand-fed prawns, salmon, and trout three times a day. But from next week, the month-old seagull who has been living at Spitalfields City Farm will try Brick Lane curry

By Biz Carson

GULLIVER has the most luxurious diet of any seagull in the East End as he chows down on hand-fed prawns, salmon, and trout three times a day.

But from next week, the month-old seagull who has been living at Spitalfields City Farm will try his first taste of Brick Lane curry, KFC and Burger King as he prepares for life in the wild.

"He's going to be a real food snob," said Helen Galland, farmyard manager.

"But we have to acclimatise him to the variety of food he'll be able to find on his own in the wild. He can't eat only salmon the rest of his life."

Helen got Gulliver at a vet after two girls found him in an alleyway in Leyton. They originally thought he had a broken right leg, but two days later, Gulliver is fully capable of standing on his own.

"You should've seen him then," Helen laughed. "He looked like a drunkard, wobbling about his cage."

Gulliver will have to stay at least another eight weeks at the East London farm until he grows his feathers and gets used to water.

At that time, Helen will probably drive him to the Isle of Dogs and release him into the wild to become an urban seagull.