African Grey seeing red

[Graehstone]

African Grey seeing red

Britain's favourite talking parrot is being put at risk by the trade in wild birds.

The African Grey parrot, one of the most popular avian pets in the world, is declining in most of the 23 countries in which it is found and may soon be added to the official 'red list' of threatened birds.

A meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) opens tomorrow (July 7) at which the trade in the African grey will be reviewed.

It will be the third time the fall in the birds' numbers have forced trading quotas to be reassessed. The RSPB says evidence of declines shows that existing trade controls are too weak.
Europe is responsible for 93% of the trade in CITES-listed birds and the charity wants the UK and other EU countries to ban bird imports unless there is compelling proof that wild bird numbers are being sustained.

Duncan McNiven, Senior Investigations Officer at the RSPB said: 'The pet trade has been exploiting wild birds for decades yet the trade goes on with too little thought for its sustainability.

The plight of the African Grey reflects the state of the bird trade as a whole and as the world's major importer of wild birds, the EU should now be banning imports of all wild birds.'

The CITES meeting comes as market research commissioned by the RSPB reveals that more than 90% of people in the UK and Germany disapprove of the wild bird trade.

A succession of questions has also been tabled in Parliament asking the government to support an end to wild bird imports into the EU.

The EU suspended the trade last year after imported wild birds died of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu in quarantine in Essex. Seizures of smuggled birds have not increased since and the RSPB estimates that the ban has saved more than one million wild birds from life in cages.

The African Grey is one of at least 3,000 bird species bought and sold to be kept as pets. It is sought-after for its skill as a mimic and attractive plumage.

CITES records show that almost 360,000 African Grey parrots were legally traded between 1994 and 2003. But these figures do not include smuggled birds and ignore the many thousands that die before they reach pet shops. For some species, this is as many as 60%.

Duncan McNiven said: 'There is now no sense in allowing the bird trade to continue. It is bad for wild birds, it is unpopular with people and it has already brought bird flu to Britain.

'Local people rarely benefit when birds are exported from their countries with profits going to middle men and importers instead.

'A permanent ban would not stop pet owners keeping these birds. Parrots bred in captivity make much better pets and are better suited to life in a cage than birds caught in the wild.'

'The UK government and the EU as a whole is playing a major role in the decline of these magnificent birds and should do all it can to initiate a permanent ban.'

Source: RSPB Public Relations department
6 July 2006
http://www.rspb.org.uk/policy/wildbi...fricangrey.asp

[bustersbuddy]

Well, Graehstone, we both know what a huge problem this is, not only for our birds, but for plants, fish, etc. The only real solution is establishing lots of captive breeding stock in both the countries that import and in the countries of origin so that pressure is taken off the remaining wild populations. The local people must be able to equal or exceed their income made from
wild-caught birds with the income from captive bred populations. Of course, parrots are no easier to breed than orchids are to grow from seed or mericlone and there in lies the rub. There are no simple answers to this and a broad-based ban will only lead to a black market where birds are further mistreated and abused in the smuggling attempts. More birds will die and further pressure will be forced on to the remaining populations. It is a vicious cycle that is doomed to repeat itself absent well funded, well trained captive breeding programs. But no one wants to do that either!

[GreetingCardReligion]

Forgive my ignorance on the subject please, I just have a few questions ^^

Do most breeders of african greys get their breeding stock from the wild? This was something that I was not aware of. I assume that it would have to start out this way, but now that there are numbers of the birds in the countries that want to breed them - you would think they could breed the stock that they have bred or even buy unrelated pairs from other breeders?

Is it just too expensive to use the bird you could have sold for $1000 and raise it and try to breed it or are birds that are bred in captivity less likely to successfully breed than wild birds?

I personally like the idea of keeping the wild birds wild and in their native countries and preserving the habitat that lets them thrive. I find it very sad that the wild populations of these birds are declining.

I would think very few people would want to buy a wild caught african grey from a petstore - especially since it would probably be aggressive and uninterested in the people looking to buy it, even on impulse. I assume, then, that the african greys imported are largely used in breeding flock but I suppose I don't see how we can't just build up generations of birds here. Is there are problem of eventually running into related bloodlines, even with bringing in birds from other breeders?

[charliebigchips]

If breeding were as simple as you thought every one would be doing it. There are so many more things to consider when it comes to baby African Greys (as if there wasnt enough for adult birds). Things like crop burn and even handling baby greys in an incorrect way can cause it a great deal of pain or even kill him/her and you wont even be aware of doing it. I have an African Grey and i bought him from a pet store in Bahrain and although i didnt ask to many questions i am pretty sure he was wild caught. He was a in a pretty bad state and to say his cage was small would be the biggest understatement. I took pity on him, purchased him and brought him to a cage that would seem like a mansion in comparison to his old one. He has come on leaps and bounds and he is very lively and accepting of humans if a little shy at times, which is understandable. A lot of people will disagree with what i have done saying that i have supported the smuggling trade etc, which to a degree is true. My line of thinking was why should i buy a hand reared bird that (if the breeder is doing thier job well) will be well cared for and go to a good home?? I feel much happier that i have saved a bird that was all but 100% guaranteed a short, miserable life. Does anyone else see the logic in my line of thinking or am i just an evil smuggler supporter?

[Lisa B]

thank you for giving him a chance at a happy life.

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by charliebigchips

My line of thinking was why should i buy a hand reared bird that (if the breeder is doing thier job well) will be well cared for and go to a good home?? I feel much happier that i have saved a bird that was all but 100% guaranteed a short, miserable life. Does anyone else see the logic in my line of thinking or am i just an evil smuggler supporter?

I totally agree with your line of thinking. Thank you for rescuing that Grey from what would probably be a miserable life.

I always preach that adult birds, adult dogs, adult cats should be the first ones that potential new homes consider because you would be saving their lives, especially if they're removed from mills or shelters. Everyone wants a cute puppy or kitten, but not everyone thinks about the older guys.

[nailsrglue]

I personally want a baby bird that is hand raised and bred in captivity because they often make much better pets. I dont really see why it is necessary to continue capturing wild birds. There are enough in captivity to help any population thrive. And if the bird is exptremely rare, chances are that you are killing off the population by taking the birds and hoping they will breed willingly.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by nailsrglue

. I dont really see why it is necessary to continue capturing wild birds. There are enough in captivity to help any population thrive. .

well thats true for the good ole usa. they stopped importation back in dec 1991. But in other countries, as the country the person is writing from, might not have the access to breeders and babies like we do.

An older bird can be just as loving and sweet in the hands of the right person. they are all individuals. Some of my BEST, most loving and tame birds, were older, and two imported prior to 1991.

ITs all in how they are raised, loved and guided.

[charliebigchips]

Thanks for the supportive comments, much appreciated. Charlie is even more full of beans now and is even managing to completely destroy wooden ladders in under 4 hours, im very proud!!

Thanks again guys.

Jay & Charlie