Conservation Outrage: 54,000 Wild-Caught Parrots & other Birds Sold as “Captive Bred” (1 Viewer)

Conservation Outrage: 54,000 Wild-Caught Parrots & other Birds Sold as “Captive Bred”

Hi All,
Although revised airport security procedures have cut down on animal smuggling, wildlife criminals continue to circumvent the law in other ways. Much as is done with “dirty money”, wild-caught parrots are now being “laundered” and sold as captive bred. A recent TRAFFIC study revealed that, in the past decade, over 54,000 parrots, lories, cockatoos and other birds have been illegally yet openly exported from the Solomon Islands. The audacity of those involved is shocking…for example, 76 Birds of Paradise of 7 species were claimed to have been bred in a single year (I’ve worked with these birds in zoos, and know the difficulties involved – few institutions have been successful). Add to this the ongoing parrot smuggling problems in Africa (please see below) and it’s easy to see why many pet trade species are in dire need of help.
Native Solomon Island Parrots
The Solomon Islands, located east of Papua New Guinea, are home to a host of unique species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. According to TRAFFIC’S report (see text below), the mostly wild-caught birds exported in the past decade included 18,444 Yellow-Bibbed Lories, 15,994 Solomon Cockatoos, 8,000+ Eclectus Parrots, and 10,000+ Cardinal and Rainbow Lorries. Read article here: http://bitly.com/ZORDr3
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Bird Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here http://bitly.com/J500rb. Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
My Bio http://bitly.com/KTsPE3
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

I often wonder where the miserable looking Amazons and Grey Parrots I see in dingy pet-shops over here come from. The staff don't seem very well informed about their orgins and in many cases are quiet evasive about the whole issue. All of which heightens my suspicions and doubts about the whole exotic animal trade

Hi,

Thanks for your input. There are a great many sources of illegal birds, and sometimes governments are involved...please see this article re illegally collected African Grays that were returned to poachers. Import controls are often a more effective tool, especially in the UK, USA and Australia, but unfortunately it is likely that smuggling still goes on. To worsen matters, wild-caught birds rarely adjust well to captivity, and so wind up in shelters or being released. Best, Frank