Parrot

Conservation

MAY 10

World Parrot Trust

Authored by: Brandon Fierros

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ABSTRACT
2. HABITAT LOSS

3. INTERNATIONAL PET TRADE

4. ACTIVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS

5. CONCLUSION

6. REFERENCES

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 Abstract
Psittaciformes, which are birds such
as parrots, macaws, and cockatoos,
are among the most endangered
birds, with nearly thirty percent of
Central and south American species
under threat.
The driving factor of this risk is due
to potential human interference.
Many populations are affected by
multiple individual threats such as
agricultural development, capture
and poaching for the pet trade, and
logging.
Human exploitation directly results
in the destruction of many parrot’s
natural habitats which could
potentially result in the decrease or
even complete loss of a parrot
population or species if left
unchecked and unregulated.
Current conservation efforts are
ongoing to ensure that as few
species are threatened as possible.
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Habitat Loss
Parrots are among the most
threatened groups of bird species,
with 28% of extant species (111 out
of 398) classified as globally
threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Because parrots have a dependency
on tropical forested areas, they are
more likely to be threatened by
logging, agriculture, and
deforestation crisis. Parrots are
cavity nesters, meaning they build
nests, lay eggs and raise young
inside sheltered chambers or
cavities. They cannot excavate their
own cavities so they must find
them.
Habitats continue to be lost or modified by
changes in human land use. For example, 93%
of coastal rainforest in Ecuador and 95% of the
coastal forests of Brazil have been destroyed.
While recent estimates of current rates of
tropical deforestation are as high as 3.3% per
annum for the Philippines. 1% per annum for
Brazil and 14% per annum for Costa Rica
(Holdgate 1991). Such environmental change
could have major implications for bird
populations. There is a clear need to improve
our understanding of the effects of habitat loss
on bird populations.
The response of bird populations to habitat loss
PAUL M. DOLMAN & WILLIAM J. SUTHERLAND
School of Biological Sciences
International Pet
Trade
The popularity of parrots as pets
has led to a thriving trade of the
birds, and some species are now
threatened with extinction because
of it. A combination of trapping and
poaching of wild parrots and
damage to parrot habitats makes
survival difficult or even impossible
for some species to survive.
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Importation of wild-caught parrots
into the US and Europe is illegal
after the Wild Bird Population
Act was passed in 1992. This,
however, does not stop the trade
from continuing unregulated in
some countries. Australia has
banned the export of its native
birds since 1960.
Following years of campaigning by
hundreds of NGOs and outbreaks of
avian flu, in July 2007, the European
Union (EU) halted the importation
of all wild birds with a permanent
ban on their import.
Prior to an earlier temporary ban
started in late October 2005, the EU
was importing nearly two million
live birds a year, about 90% of the
international market. Hundreds of
thousands of these were parrots.
Mexico has a licensing system for
capturing and selling native birds.
Roughly 2600 of the more than
9600 species in existence are
registered as being
subject to trade, with Psittaciformes
making up about 20 percent of
those.
 Active Conservation efforts
The World Parrot Trade has brought together global wildlife conservation and welfare
experts to implement effective programs to protect parrots. It has aided 66 species in
42 countries since its launch in 1989. By conducting field research on local
populations, steps can be laid out to ensure that a threatened species is given the
space and care needed to ensure their survival.

Raising awareness in the local areas surrounding the effected populations will also
help. Many local businesses may not be aware of, or may not care, about the potential
damage that they may be causing to local parrot populations. Informing both them
and the public should dissuade any further damage and promote recovery for the
local parrot population.

Many conservation projects are currently active around the globe, usually centered on
one specific population. All projects will accept any potential volunteers or donations.
There are currently 32 ongoing projects implemented by just the WPT alone, with 44
projects already completed in the past.

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 What You Can Do
Find a local bird shelter and volunteer your time there in helping take care of these
wonderful creatures. Many of these shelters take in birds that have been abused or
driven from their homes due to deforestation and construction. Many others are
simply unwanted birds that were abandoned or given up by their former owners.

Donating to help support local or even foreign conservation efforts would be greatly
appreciated and would help save the habitats and lives of hundreds of birds. Many of
the conservation efforts are funded either by concerned citizens or grants given by the
state or special organizations.

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 Since 2005, WPT has worked to assist efforts
to end the trade in wild-caught Blue-fronted
Amazon Parrots. This work includes:
Documenting current trade practices in the
species' native country and others, Providing
logistical and monetary help for confiscations,
and Aiding rehabilitation and releases

WPT also supported the research of biologist

Dr. Igor Berkunsky starting in 2007.
One hundred and forty-eight Blue-fronted
Amazon chicks were confiscated from the
illegal wild bird trade in October 2010. The
Brazilian NGO SOS FAUNA, provided the first
emergency care; the chicks were later
transferred to their Rescue Center in the state
of Mato Grosso do Sul (CRAS-MS). The World
Parrot Trust’s FlyFree program contributed
financial support for this emergency rescue.

BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON Project

(Amazona aestiva)
World Parrot Trust

Conclusion
The declining parrot populations can be saved if actions are taken soon enough.
There are many active biologists and conservationists that need all the help they
can get to save these species from the brink of death. Thanks to the work
spearheaded by the WPT, many parrot species around the world are receiving the
help they require to flourish once again. There are many regions, however that still
require assistance and manpower. In places where parrots occur naturally, trapping
continues to supply illegal and harmful domestic pet trade. To that end, WPT is
working on halting exports from the few remaining countries in Africa, Asia, Central
and South America that are the final hurdle in ending the trade in wild parrots
permanently. If you would like to lend your aid to save the parrot population, more
information can be found at https://www.parrots.org/.
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 References

EU Permanently Bans Imports of Wild Birds | Defenders of ... defenders.org/press-

release/eu-permanently-bans-imports-wild-birds.

“New rules for captive bird imports to protect animal health in the EU and improve the
welfare of imported birds.” European Commision, 11 Jan. 2007,
europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-07-40_en.htm?locale=en.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN WILD BIRDS, AND RELATED BIRD MOVEMENTS, IN LATIN

AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal
Disease Operations (ECTAD), www.fao.org/docrep/013/i0708e/i0708e00.pdf.