Who’s a bad boy then? asks agency
By Noor-Jehan Yoro Badat

Five hundred African grey parrots, valued at about R3,5-million, have been confiscated in Cameroon.

Ofir Drori, from the Last Great Ape Organisation (Laga), an organisation designed to establish the effective enforcement of wildlife law in Cameroon - said a dealer had been arrested at the airport.

The confiscation of the parrots is the second batch to have been seized in a week. The second consignment was headed for Mexico City.

The parrots were taken to the Limbe Wildlife Sanctuary, about two hours from the airport and the only infrastructure able to accommodate them.

Peter Jenkins, founder of the Pandrillus Foundation in Nigeria and director of the Limbe Wildlife Sanctuary, said that while there was often no government action to enforce wildlife law, he was encouraged by the confiscation of the parrots and the arrest of an illegal trader.

“Something was done and we see the consequences of it,” he said.

Felix Lankester, the sanctuary’s project manager, said that as soon as he was contacted by Laga, the sanctuary’s team immediately set out to build a flight cage. He said the cage would house the parrots only until they were released in a nearby forest. Until the flight cage was ready, the parrots were being housed in another cage at the far end of the sanctuary.

“We will sort out the sick ones and put the rest in the other cage, but we have to get them out of here as soon as possible and back into the forest,” said Lankester.

From the first batch that arrived last week, so far 300 African grey parrots have been released. Twenty parrots have died from Chlamydia psittaci, a common disease among parrots, brought on by stress and malnutrition. And from the new batch, seven of the parrots have died and one is injured.

Lankester said the parrots had been transported in shocking conditions. They were stuffed to capacity in wooden crates, containing two roost sections and enclosed by wire mesh.

“I have never seen anything like this. It makes it embarrassing for humans. With their sharp claws, they were standing on top of each other. They were stressed and afraid. It is a shocking situation.”

Lankester explained that African grey parrots were usually caught by hunters, after an order had been placed with them from an illegal trader, who rubbed glue or gum on fruit trees to trap the birds.

City Parrots

Breaks your heart! What's wrong with humans????

that is so cruel shame on them all. there are too many greys in the pet trade as is, why rip them from their natural homes.

This makes me so angry!