Rising illegal trade threatens African grey parrots with extinction

The African grey parrot, renowned for its striking feathers and remarkable ability to mimic human speech, is under siege from illegal trafficking. The demand for these intelligent birds as pets is driving a brutal trade that decimates their population and causes untold suffering.

The journey from forest to captivity is perilous for these parrots, with a majority never making it to their final destinations. “Up to 60% of African grey parrots die between capture and transport,” said Patrick Muinde, Research Director at World Animal Protection. “Out of ten parrots, only four survive.”

Poachers employ cruel methods to capture the birds, often using a sticky gum made from tree sap to trap them on branches. To ensure they cannot escape, the poachers frequently tear off the parrots’ wings, leaving many injured or dead in the process.

African grey parrots are native to West, Central, and East Africa, with significant populations in countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. However, the bulk of illegally trafficked birds originate from West Africa, particularly from equatorial forests in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria, according to the World Parrot Trust.

Once numbering in the millions, the population of wild African grey parrots has plummeted to around 100,000. In some countries, such as Togo and Ghana, the species is already considered extinct.

Although the 2017 amendments to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aim to ban all trade in African grey parrots, enforcement remains weak. Traffickers exploit loopholes in regional laws to continue their activities unabated.

The World Parrot Trust has highlighted the urgent need for stronger international cooperation and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to combat this illegal trade.

Conservationists warn that immediate action is necessary to save this iconic species from extinction. Public awareness, enhanced legal measures, and robust enforcement are critical to curbing the illegal trade and protecting the remaining population of African grey parrots.

Amnewsworld will continue to follow developments on this critical issue as efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of African grey parrots intensify.