PHV driver, 54, nurses abandoned parakeet back to health, it now accompanies him to work as passenger princess

After finding a baby parakeet abandoned at his door and in bad shape, a 54-year-old private-hire driver nursed it back to health.

Now, the parakeet, which he named Bao Bei (or Baby in Mandarin), rides in the passenger seat of his car, to the delight of his customers.

Injured and abandoned

Speaking to Mothership, the driver, Low Chee How, 54, shared that Baby was found abandoned at his door one day.

He does not know who left it there, but surmised that the person must have noticed that he kept birds at home.

It was injured and one of its eyes was transparent, Low recalled.

"It was very weak," he said.

Its nose was also bleeding.

Low nursed the parakeet back to health, treating it with medicine bought from a shop.

However, Baby's injured eye never recovered.

Work companion

Three months later, the green parakeet rides in Low's passenger seat, accompanying him and his passengers on their journeys.

Baby calmly perches on the rim of a white bin, placed inside a paper bag on the passenger seat of Low's Honda Shuttle Hybrid.

During the car ride with Low, the parakeet shuffled left and right in order to keep his balance.

Occasionally, it would chirp.

Low shared that Baby's intention could be discerned through its tone.

When it wants attention or affection, its chirp would sound friendlier.

When it needs its space, it would make it clear, Low pointed out.

Parakeets tend to get lonely

When asked why, out of all his birds, Baby gets to tag along for work, Low explained that parakeets tend to need more companionship.

"Unlike the birds that sing, parakeets get lonely when they are left alone," the 54-year-old said.

Low's passengers are generally receptive to Baby being in the car as well, and most would ask if they can take a video of the bird.

Low has been a cab driver for over 10 years, since before the advent of ride-hailing apps.

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