Boat smuggling parrots captured today

[MiniMama]

Noah's Ark found off Peru | Video | Reuters.com

Captured parrots - Good that they stopped the boat, but many of these are babies and what will becoe of them?

[NoLimitssjca]

Wow that's crazy! Hope the captain gets a similar sized cell.

[PyscoFalcon]

Pooor things. At least they were caught and some of them are been returned to there home.

Others will probably have to live in sancturies.

[Ashling]

"Boat smuggling parrots?" Did they catch the parrots smuggling that boat?? Sorry I had to.

What despicable people! Endangered creatures and baby parrots. I swear some people have no heart. Do they only care for themselves and their back pockets? The world is being destroyed, more animals becoming extinct every day... and they can sleep at night while they profit from other creatures misery!!!

[Vee]

So glad they caught this in time, it's terrible!

[SDavid]

I don't think the animals will be returned to the wild anytime soon if they are even that lucky. It's a difficult process that involves alot of bureocracy. Generally, most of the time the animals are held as evidence for as long as it takes to convict the smugglers. Kept in quarrantine. And, believe it or not, they sometimes get auctioned off at low prices (by the govt. they were smuggled into) rather than retured to the wild. That's what the US does with birds (most) coming in from Mexico. It's another source of needed income for govt. agencies that fight smuggling. The birds can be bought by anyone and they sometimes end up in bird mills or other such fates. Victimized by those who "saved" them.

Also, the reporter is wrong about the purpose of CITES. That organization doesn't exist to protect species (that's misleading). It exists to ensure that populations of wildlife can sustain themsleves enough to meet human demand (with parrots, they are failing). If demand is greater than what can be taken and recover from the wild then that's a problem. For instance, if trading in one species has severely reduced it's numbers then that species will go on Appendix I. It will be Illegal to trade it at all. When it's numbers increase it will be put on Appenix II, trapping (which is often cruel) will resume. Remember throughout the world there's both legal and illegal trapping and transporting of animals and plants. What these people are doing is illegal but the punishment is light and they'll most likely be at it again. Just imagine how many times they've done it without getting caught.

[Abby]

I have to admit the psycho penguins from the Madagascar movies came to mind when I saw this title...


Anyway, on a serious note.

Parrot smuggling is wrong, end of subject. The reason it occurs is due to a demand in the Westernised countries for these birds (and other creatures). Just wondering if anyone has read about the people that do that trapping? I have. I am not about to justify what goes on but it must also be understood that many of the "village" trappers are living way below the poverty line. It's easy money. When looking at feeding a family the consequences for the birds isn't taken into account.

For trapping and smuggling to end the demand for the exotic species has to end and the villagers who make their living out of trapping have to have a new profession to earn money and feed their families.

It's not a simple issue.

[MiniMama]

hehe.. I now realize my title does seem misleading :-) Perhaps they can 'smuggle' another vessle to get back to the wild!

[Ashling]

Originally Posted by MiniMama

hehe.. I now realize my title does seem misleading :-) Perhaps they can 'smuggle' another vessle to get back to the wild!

Good idea for a children's book ;)
Educate the littluns on parrots and the environment...

[hollyhawkz]

"Boat smuggling parrots?" Did they catch the parrots smuggling that boat?? Sorry I had to.

I thought the same thing... LOL


I hope the ones being released find their way home. As for the rest, I suppose better in a sanctuary than dying in that hold.

Jerks!