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Defenders Magazine
Defenders in Action: Polly Wants to Stay Wild
Defenders has partnered with the World Parrot Trust and other conservation groups to urge the European Union to end its imports of parrots and other wild birds, including migratory songbirds that breed in the United States.
Europe imports roughly a million wild birds a year, accounting for more than 90 percent of the global bird market. These imports, mostly for the pet trade, are contributing to declines in many species, especially parrots.
With 94 listed on the international “red list" of endangered species, parrots are the world’s most threatened family of birds; and many of the species being imported into the European Union are vulnerable to extinction. Birds often die during the long and dangerous ordeal of trapping, shipping and quarantining. Many of those that survive are unsuitable as pets and end up abandoned.
Until 1992, the United States was the world’s largest market for birds. In that year, the U.S. adopted the landmark Wild Bird Conservation Act, which banned the import of wild-caught birds. Now, most parrots in the U.S. are captive-bred.
“The wealthy countries that drive this trade have a responsibility to help control it," says Carroll Muffett, senior director for international conservation at Defenders of Wildlife. “The United States recognized that responsibility more than a dozen years ago. It’s time the European Union do the same."
To support their effort, Defenders and its partners are selling “Trade Band" wristbands embossed with wild parrots and the logo “Fly Free." Visit www.birdsareforwatching.org to see the wristbands and learn how you can take action to save these rare and beautiful animals.
