Bird lovers celebrate African grey ruling
LOVERS of wild birds yesterday celebrated as parties at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) of Wild Fauna and Flora granted the African grey parrot the highest protection – Appendix I, prohibiting all commercial trade.
Gabon, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Togo submitted the proposal along with co-sponsorship by Chad, Senegal, US and the EU at the Conference of the Parties (Cop17) in Sandton. It was agreed by 95 votes in support, 35 votes against and five abstentions.
“If this bird could talk – and it certainly can – the African grey parrot would say thank you,” said Wildlife Conservation Society vice-president of international policy Sue Lieberman.
Legal trade data estimates that more than 1.3 million African greys were exported from range states between 1975 and 2013, with an average of 40 to 60 percent dying due to deplorable transit conditions.
This means the true estimate of African greys captured in just under 40 years was between 2.1 and 3.2 million birds.
“Inclusion in Appendix I is in the best interests of the conservation of the species as it faces both habitat loss and rampant illegal and unsustainable trade for the international pet trade,” said Lieberman.
Parrot Breeders Association of Southern Africa chairperson Ben Minnaar expressed disappointment at the decision yesterday, but said the association had contingency plans.
“We realise the prices are going to skyrocket. It seems there is enough common ground for appreciation that there needs to be a quicker and easier way to get permits from Switzerland.”
The association was lobbying to keep the bird as Appendix II, where it was afforded controlled captive breeding. It believed that uplisting the parrot to Appendix I was not the way to save the bird.
Minnaar said the association would work with the ruling and start preparing applications for permits.