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Unlike other commonly poached animals, parrots are among the few that are poached live for the pet trade. From 1975 to 2016, it is estimated that more than 16 million live parrots in 321 species were traded internationally. Over 1.2 million wild-sourced African Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) have been traded internationally since the 1970s, the majority of which were taken from the wild with serious implications for conservation, animal welfare, and biosecurity.
Wild parrots are found throughout most regions of the world but are more typical in areas with warmer climates. While their presence is vast, parrot poaching disproportionately occurs in Central and South America, otherwise known as the neotropics. Historically, parrots have been taken from the wild in the neotropics laws. Parrot poaching was largely committed for personal ownership or for local sale. Such practices did not push many species to the brink of extinction, because it was limited and parrots were far more abundant in prior decades and centuries. It was not until the 1970s that poaching became an industrialized and global enterprise in large part to the demand from the United States and European nations. Once the illegal parrot trade became global, coupled with deforestation, parrot populations began to rapidly decline for many species, making parrots one of the most-endangered group of birds on the planet.
Parrots have been captured as household and companion pets throughout human history due to their colorful and complex plumage, remarkably high intelligence, and impressive ability to mimic different sounds. Captive breeding has been possible for many species; however, many popular parrot species are not able to be bred in captivity, therefore, their horrific catches in the wild continue.
Illegal captured of parrots for the pet trade in Indonesia
By the end of the 20th century, CITES banned the trade of most parrot species and the United States banned the importation of wild parrots. Ostensibly, this resulted in a large decline in the illegal parrot trade at the international level. Recent studies, however, have shown that the domestic and regional trade in parrots is a far greater problem than the international trade. A Mexican report based on interviews with trappers found upward of 78,500 parrots were being poached annually and the vast majority were for domestic demand. Similar domestic trade volumes have been observed in in Bolivia, Peru, and in Brazil. Current poaching levels are unsustainable for the great majority of species in these countries. Threatened species such as Critically Endangered Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), Red-fronted (Macaw Ara rubrogenys), Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthus) and Military Macaw (Ara militaris) are frequently transported across Bolivia from Brazil to be sold in Peru or elsewhere.
Only increased and effective enforcement and awareness of wildlife trade legislation, the capture and trade in threatened wild species could stop illegal capture and trade of parrots.
Many parrots are now classified as endangered, making them one of the rarest wildlife species in the world. That is why we urgently need your help.
Through your donations, Endangered Species International is working with local communities to protect the remaining wild parrots. Thanks to these community patrols, we have already protected countless parrots in the wild while protecting their habitats (mainly rainforest) like in Northern Brazil or Central Congo.
Your generous gift today could help us continue this critical work by equipping these dedicated local staff with walkie-talkies and GPS, allowing them to carefully monitor endangered parrot nests and deter poachers. We are also working with indigenous tribes to help establish protected areas for threatened parrots.
If we don’t act now, parrots are at risk of becoming extinct. They deserve so, so much better.
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