Working to end the wild bird trade - World Parrot Trust · diseases into the importing countries. Thanks to work spearheaded by the WPT in the EU, much of the international trade

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November 2010 PsittaScene 7

One year ago, the

World Parrot Trust

established FlyFree,

an international

initiative to create

awareness and

support for our

decade-long work

to end the trade in

wild caught birds.

Why?Over the past several decades the trade in wildcaught birds has caused the suffering and loss ofmillions of birds. Legal and illegal harvests for theinternational pet trade are destructive to wildpopulations; few birds survive from trapping tothe point of sale. Those that do survive may carrydiseases into the importing countries. Thanks towork spearheaded by the WPT in the EU, much ofthe international trade has now ceased, butcountries in Asia and the Middle East still activelyimport wild-caught birds. And in their homeranges, parrots are still trapped to supply localdemand.

How?FlyFree supports the front-line efforts of partneragencies all over the world – all committed toending the wild bird trade. WPT provides logisticaland operating support for these groups and theirefforts to enforce wildlife laws to protect birds.

MANY OF OUR MOST REWARDING PROJECTS this yearhave been releases of confiscated birds. These releasesare exciting on so many levels – partly because of thesheer joy of seeing the birds through the rehabilitationprocess to the point of flying free but also because ofthe ripple effect of this work. The releases also open upspace for authorities to place new birds confiscatedfrom traders. They send positive messages to thepoliticians and the public about valuing wildlife in thewild rather than in cages. They give people, includingpoliticians, community leaders and children, anopportunity to participate in a positive conservationand welfare activity. Releases allow us to repopulateareas where parrots have been driven to extinctionlocally. They teach us a lot about how to successfullyrelease parrots, which informs our work withthreatened species. Releases also provide clear andextremely positive welfare outcomes for the individualparrots that are released, and ultimately preventmany more from being taken from the wild.

When 280 Orange-fronted Conures (Aratinga canicularis), were confiscated fromtrappers as chicks, they were sent to Conrehabit in Mazatlan, Mexico for rehabilitation.

Here, after months of care and preparation, they delight on-lookers upon release.

Learn more: www.parrots.org/flyfree

© Martha B. Armenta, Conrehabit, A.C

Working to end the wild bird tradeand return parrots back to the wild

J11333 World Parrot Trust.qxp:PS 21 1 Feb 09.qxd 26/11/10 11:15 Page 7

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8 PsittaScene November 2010

Upon arrival, 523 African Grey Parrots crowded in 6 small crates were released into Lwiro’s education classroom. Atemporary indoor enclosure was swiftly adapted for their use (top) while 8 large outdoor flights could be constructed.

On September 18th,

523 African Grey Parrots

(Psittacus erithacus) were

bound for Singapore with

forged CITES paperwork

when they were

confiscated by authorities

at the Kavumu airport in

the Democratic Republic

of Congo (DRC) in

central Africa.

TWO HOURS LATER the birds arrived at LwiroPrimate Sanctuary in terrible condition. Lwiro isa rescue centre which houses over 100 orphanedchimpanzees and monkeys, with no existingfacilities for birds. The arrival of the parrots wasa serious strain on staff and reserves,necessitating an urgent appeal for help. “Wedidn’t have much warning,” said Carmen Vidal,manager of Lwiro Sanctuary. “We were told theparrots were coming and then they were here.”

The confiscation came too late for twenty-ninebirds that were dead on arrival or died shortlyafterward. Some of the nearly 500 remainingbirds were found to be tied to one another byone wing. They also had no food or water for anunknown period of time. Their situationrequired immediate stabilization.

In response, the World Parrot Trust (WPT)immediately publicised the appeal and received

an outstanding level of support which wentimmediately to help the birds and their caregivers.This type of need is precisely the reason theFlyFree programme was initiated one year ago. Itis also a perfect example of what FlyFree is about:quick and purposeful action where it is mostneeded to get birds back out into the wild.

THE CONGO 500 EFFORT AT A GLANCE:� Over 220 WPT supporters from around theworld answered our emergency appeal.

� Columbus Zoo, Disney Rapid Response Fundand Natural Encounters Conservation Fund allmade major contributions (see p19).

� Within days, WPT sent funds for immediatefood and housing costs.

� Nutritional and medical advice and flight cageplans were provided.

� Additional funds were sent to cover theconstruction of 8 large flight cages.

� Three veterinarians travelled to Lwiro toprovide specialised medical assistance.

© Lwiro Primate Sanctuary

© Lwiro Primate Sanctuary © Lwiro Primate Sanctuary



Dr. Davide De Guz, Dr. Gino Conzo (both fromItaly) and Dr. Noel Arienteireho (UgandaWildlife Education Center) arrived at Lwiro onOctober 21st. They brought with them a much-needed anaesthesia machine (with the help of Dr.Collarile) and 4kg (9lb) of supplements andmedications donated to Lwiro by GEAVET.

The vets are working under difficult conditionsdue to on-going political unrest in this area. Thenature of the conditions and the seriousness ofthe work to be done truly accentuate thededication of those working to help these birdsregain their freedom. Lwiro itself is very remoteand operates with only the necessities. Basicservices can be hard to find after many years ofwar in the DRC. Locating supplies such as anoxygen tank can be very challenging.

Initial examination revealed that most of theGreys were suffering from parasites, principallytapeworms. The infestation was very serious andwas the cause of the initial deaths. The remainingbirds were individually treated with great success,needing a second dose after 15 days.

Now, a month after their arrival, 460 birds havesurvived. Most are eating well, are banded andready for release. Several birds are ill and arebeing treated and monitored in separate cages. Athird group have feather damage but areotherwise healthy and will be released when theirfeathers re-grow.

THIS IS THE FIRST CONFISCATION OF ITS KIND inthe DRC but similar illegal shipments have beenconfiscated several times in recent years in westAfrica. In a three-year period over 2,700 GreyParrots have been confiscated, rehabilitated andreleased, when possible, in Cameroon. GreyParrot shipments have also been seized in Kenyaand Bulgaria.

It is worth mentioning that these huge illegalshipments are not being transportedunderground. They are moving openly usingforged permits, confirming that it is the on-goinglegal wildlife trade that is facilitating theserepeated tragic situations.

IUCN figures provided by Birdlife indicate thatalmost one-quarter of existing Grey Parrotpopulations are being trapped each year – makingthem one of the most heavily traded parrotspecies on the international market. Addingurgency is the belief that by using establishedtrade routes, dealers in other species, such as great apes, can quite easily cross over to parrotsand visa-versa. It is our hope that thisconfiscation in the DRC is just one more steptowards ending of the trade of wild caught Greysaltogether.

Watch for updates in PsittaScene and atww.parrots.org/flyfree

Food preparation is on a huge scale with 10kg (22lbs) served twice daily. The birds are enjoying their diet ofcooked beans and rice, corn, pineapple, bananas, palm nuts and oil along with a variety of supplements.

Veterinarians from Italy and Uganda spent 10 days at Lwiro to help assess and treat all 500 of thebird’s individual medical needs. Dedicated parrot keepers were hired to provide daily care.



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10 PsittaScene November 2010

FlyFree action around the world

6

One year after its

inception, FlyFree has

been an outstanding

success. Over 20,000

visitors have viewed the

FlyFree website’s

informational pages,

gaining a new

understanding of the

complex issues and

successful efforts taking

place. More than 300

individuals have made

donations. The scope of

our work continues to

expand as we welcome

new partner organisations

and extend FlyFree into a

multi-year commitment.

FLYFREE FUNDS ARE USED TO:� Help rescue, rehabilitate andrelease individual birds caughtin trade.

� Further efforts to confiscateillegal shipments of parrots.

� Encourage the adoption andenforcement of laws thatprotect parrots.

� Support global awareness andeducation programs.

� Develop broad-based coalitionsto advocate on behalf ofparrots.

� Fund research into betterunderstanding regional aspectsof the trade.

4 IndiaWPT supported education, awareness andwildlife confiscation efforts by the VisakhaSociety for Protection and Care of Animals.WPT also provided guidance and financialsupport for an effort to rescue 74 unfledgedAlexandrine Parakeets (Psittacula eupatria).

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54

1 CongoIn addition to working with the Lwiro Sanctuaryon the Congo 500 (page 8) WPT has initiatedsurveys of bais (forest clearings) in theDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tobetter understand how they are used byAfrican Greys and how much local trapping isoccurring.

WPT assisted with the confiscation,rehabilitation and eventual release of 1500+African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus)taken in by the Limbe Wildlife Centre over justa few months. Emergency funds and logisticalguidance were immediately dispatched toprovide for the essential care of the birds.Long-term support helped see the releasablebirds through rehabilitation.

3 KenyaWPT co-sponsored a workshop of agencies toharmonize communication and collaborationespecially concerning procedures to help GreyParrots impounded in transit. We also providedsupport for the construction of a rehabilitationaviary for confiscated Greys.

2 Cameroon

5 NepalWPT and Bird Conservation Nepal studied thecountry’s wild bird trade and determined thatincreasing use of birds by people for pets, meatand religious purposes are the main actionsfuelling the wild bird trade in Nepal. A regionalworking group on the wild bird trade wasproposed and supported by the government.

© Diana May


© Limbe


WPT assisted with the release of the extremelyrare Mitchell’s Lorikeets (Trichoglossushaematodus mitchellii) on the island of NusaPenida. This species is reduced to a smallhandful of remaining birds due to trade.

6 Indonesia

WPT provided technical help and bands toConrehabit in Mazatlan Mexico (see photo p.7)for the rehabilitation and release of over 250Orange-fronted Conures (Aratinga canicularis)confiscated from poachers as chicks.

10 Mexico

WPT met with wildlife trade enforcementofficers in Honduras about heavy cross-borderwildlife trafficking with Nicaragua. Near the cityof Copan a new project was initiated torehabilitate and release Scarlet Macaws (Aramacao) into a UNESCO National Heritage Parkand Archaeological Site.

12 Honduras

Working with Belize Bird Rescue, WPT providedsupport for the rehabilitation and release ofconfiscated birds. We participated in releasesand provided bands and guidance as needed.

11 Belize

WPT supported the Wildlife Rescue andConservation Association (ARCAS) to return80 birds (Ara and Aratinga parrots) to the RioAzul-Mirador National Park in northernGuatemala.

8 Guatemala

9 BrazilWPT worked with partner Associação Bichosda Mata (ABM) to release 47 birds (Amazonaand Ara macaws) to the Pantanal in Brazil. Weparticipated in their latest release of almost 100Blue-fronted Amazon Parrots (Amazonaaestiva), provided 12 radio collars and arepartnering to monitor birds post-release. WPTco-hosted a workshop with IBAMA São Pauloand ABM for those involved in rehabilitatingand releasing parrots. We also providedemergency assistance for 300 Amazon parrotnestlings seized from trappers.

7 Argentina & ChileWPT funded the printing of informationalbooklets for school-aged children that profilethe Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseuspatagonus), a local species frequently found intrade. We are also funding the protection of acolony of the rare Chilean subspecies whichhas been under severe poaching pressure inrecent years.

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© Nikki Buxton

© Colum Muccio


© Juan Masello



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Working to end the wild bird trade - World Parrot Trust · diseases into the importing countries. Thanks to work spearheaded by the WPT in the EU, much of the international trade