WILD PARROTS PAY THE PRICE

​

The illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise that spans the globe. From rhinos to orchids, no species is exempt from slaughter, harvest, and illegal trade.

​

The illegal parrot trade is a harrowing tale of cruelty and devastation, unfolding across continents. It is estimated that over 500,000 parrots are snatched from their natural habitats and illegally transported and sold annually. Subjected to brutal capture methods and grueling transport conditions, many suffer injuries, trauma, and a staggering mortality rate (estimated at 75% - 80%). Beyond the individual suffering, the illegal trade in parrots wreaks havoc on wild populations, driving species towards extinction and disrupting delicate ecosystems. Forests are under siege as nest trees are cut to access chicks and eggs. 

​

According to Bird Life International, in the Americas, the sale of wild-caught parrots still occurs in contravention of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and national laws that ban unauthorized trade in wild animals. A recent study of pet markets in Santa Cruz, Bolivia found that over 22,000 individuals of 31 parrot species, the vast majority of which (94%) were wild-caught, were illegally traded every year under Bolivian law. Similarly large numbers of wild-caught birds are traded illegally in Mexico, with trappers estimated to capture 65,000–78,500 parrots every year.

​

RSCF works with regulatory agencies and law enforcement to assist in the recovery and rescue of smuggled chicks and eggs, while also consulting with international governments and NGOs to expose and hold accountable criminal organizations involved in illegal wildlife trade.