Solutions The trade in all parrots, with the exception of two species, is controlled by CITES Threats from habitat loss and trade (the Convention on International Trade need to be addressed. The following in Endangered Species). This convention actions should be promoted: is the key to preventing international trade in endangered wild parrots and The establishment and practical other species. TRAFFIC is working realisation of an ecologically worldwide to improve CITES legislation, representative network of protected Blue-throated macaw, Boliva assist and train customs officers and other photo: C. Allen/TRAFFICInternational areas covering at least 10 per cent officials involved in the regulation of of each of the world’s forest types trade, and carry out monitoring, research by the end of the year 2000. At present and investigations into wildlife trade and eight per cent of the world’s forests illegal trade activities. TRAFFIC is also are designated protected areas. supporting the development of The independent certification of at enforcement methods such as DNA least 25 million hectares of wel l - m a n a g e d testing for countering fraudulent captive fo r ests by June 2001 focussing on key breeding claims. timber producing countries. So far TRAFFIC is a programme of WWF and Amazon rainforest, Brazil mo r e than 16 million hectares have photo:M.Edwards / Still Pictures /WWF-UK IUCN (the World Conservation Union), been certified. established to monitor trade in plant Governments (especially the 145 and animals. signatories to CITES) must provide adequate resources to implement CITES. Management and scientific authorities, customs and police, are key players in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, Threatened parrots – a global picture and under-funding these agencies limits their role in the control of trade and the Blue and yellow macaw, Venezuela photo: D. Lawson/ WWF-UK fight against wildlife crime.
World Parrot Trust was founded in 1989 CITES must be enforced if it is to be to promote the survival of all parrot effective. This requires adequate laws species and welfare of individual birds. in all member countries, including For further information So far it has initiated and supported penalties that are sufficient deterrents please contact: conservation and welfare projects against illegal activities. To counter in 20 countries for 37 species of parrot. fraudulent captive breeding claims, WWF-UK TRAFFIC recommends that law Telephone: 01483 426444 enforcement agencies undertake detailed www.wwf-uk.org White-breasted parakeet, Ecuador photo:M.Slocombe /Parrots in Peril checks (including DNA sampling) of commercial shipments and domestic TRAFFIC WWF conserves wildlife and transactions of captive-bred parrots. Telephone: 01223 277427 the natural environment for present www.traffic.org and future generations. WORLD PARROT TRUST Telephone: 01736 753365 www.worldparrottrust.org
Habitat loss, Brazil photo:M Rautkari/WWF-UK
C. Allen /TRAFFIC
Compiled by: Paul Toyne, Australian king parrot, Australia photo:M Rautkari /WWF-UK Steve Nash and Tracey-Ann Hooley. Threatened parrots – a global picture Parrots and forests Parrots and trade
Parrots are a diverse family of birds comprising more than The vast majority of the world’s parrots WWF has designated the Pantanal wetland At least 18 species of Cockatoos are also popular 350 species. Most are forest dwellers, found mainly in the tropics occur in forest habitats including lowland as a Global 200 region – one of over parrot are believed to cage birds, and many are and subtropics, although some frequent temperate vegetation on tropical forests in Amazonian Brazil, 200 key eco-regions that are important be endangered or critically still common. However, monsoon forests in Indonesia, cloud for their rich diversity of species and endangered by trade, the Philippine cockatoo, mountain ranges, and others occur in temperate latitudes. forests in the high Andes of Colombia, biological distinctiveness. Working with or trade in combination formerly widespread Ecuador and Peru, and temperate conservation partners and governments, with other factors such in the Philippines, has Parrots are diverse in distribution, size, eucalyptus forests in Australia. These WWF is investigating alternatives to as habitat loss. been severely reduced in behaviour and name. Large macaws birds rely on forest products including the waterways project. We also aim A further 40 species are numbers due to extensive can measure one metre from head to tail, fruit, seeds and nectar as their main food to improve living conditions for local considered vulnerable. catching. Indeed, the source and they require suitable tree people, to promote the use of natural young of every known whereas pygmy parrots from New Guinea Among the most sought- hollows for breeding. Many parrots are resources on a sustainable basis and accessible nest are taken are a mere 9cm. Some parrots are after parrots by collectors important pollinators and seed dispersers. to maintain the ecological integrity of for the pet trade. The flightless such as the Kakapo from are the “blue” macaws, Pantanal ecosystems for biodiversity, yellow-crested cockatoo New Zealand, others have adapted to life prized for their brilliant The blue-throated macaw Over 80 per cent of threatened parrot including the hyacinth macaw. was once common on coasts, some inhabit grasslands, blue colouring, large size, is much sought after by species depend on forests for their throughout much of its whilst most are forest dwellers. Amazons, More good news for the hyacinth macaw intelligence and rarity. collectors. As a result, it survival. Without immediate action to range, but there is budgerigars, cockatoos, conures, is the recent pledge by the Brazilian The hyacinth macaw is numbers fewer than 1,000 reverse the trend in forest destruction evidence of substantial lorikeets, lorys, macaws and parakeets government to triple the area found mainly in Brazil, in its native Bolivia. The population decline due are all different names for parrots. and degradation, these species face of protected forest in the Amazon but also in Bolivia rarest of them all, the to trapping. Several extinction. Many of the near to 25 million hectares, in line with Paraguay. The illegal Spix’s macaw of Brazil, was Due to hunting and habitat destruction endemic subspecies are threatened species, and those not yet the WWF Forests for Life campaign. trapping of this macaw, down to three known birds in the last 400 years at least 27 species endangered as a result for a lucrative black in the 1980s, all of which have become extinct, mostly on islands – listed as threatened, will also decline Parrots of the Asia/Pacific region include of poorly controlled trade: market, has caused the were believed to have for example, the Cuban macaw, the if forest loss continues. lorikeets, raquet tails and cockatoos. red-tailed black cockatoos wild population to decline eventually been caught for Seychelles parakeet and the Mascarene Many are severely threatened by habitat from Australia command to fewer then 3,000. the illegal trade. Only a parrot on Mauritius. Continental parrots loss and trade. Recent forest fires have very high prices on the single bird, discovered in have also disappeared: the Carolina devastated huge areas of habitat and, black market. 1990, remains in the wild. parrot, once widespread in the United for many species, these problems are Most other macaws are States, has vanished and the Glaucous compounded by their small geographical popular in trade, and macaw from south-eastern Latin America ranges. Many parrots are island species because of demand, only has probably become extinct in the and have nowhere to go if their habitats 1,000 red-fronted macaws last 50 years. are destroyed. may be left in the wild. Parrots face a conservation crisis. WWF is committed to stopping and The IUCN Global Action Plan for Par ro t s Amazons are another reversing the loss and degradation of the identifies 89 threatened species, including popular group of parrots world’s forests. Through its Forests for Life 12 that are critically endangered. in trade. There are fewer campaign, WWF is implementing more This means that of all the widely distributed than 4,500 red-tailed The demand for other than 300 forest conservation programmes bi r d families in the world, the parrot family amazons left. The yellow- pa r r ots is also high, around the world. Many are helping to Indonesia supports the highest number has the highest percentage of threa t e n e d In 1996 a wel l - k n o wn bird headed amazon has and species can become secure the future of the parrot. In the Latin of threatened parrot species in the species at 25 per cent. A further 40 species ex p e r t – believed to be declined by 90 per cent critically threatened ver y America/Caribbean region WWF is Asia/Pacific region and its 14 threatened ar e said to be near threatened. personally responsible for in the last 20 years, and qu i c k l y . The population helping by implementing over 40 forest species include four that are endangered. Th r eatened parrots of the Asia/Pac i f i c the demise of up to 10 per fewer than 7,000 now of the red-and-blue lory conservation projects. Through its New Action Network region number 39 species. These are cent of the entire world remain. National trade in of Indonesia was rec e n t l y programme in Irian Jaya, WWF is working distributed across more than 10 countries The hyacinth macaw is one of the world’s population of hyacinth the red-spectacled amazon estimated at fewer than to protect large tracts of forest threatened and territories, with the highest numbers largest and most striking parrots. With macaws in the wild – was has left fewer than 8,500 2,000. In 1992 and early by mining and forestry activities. We aim of threatened species occurring in a population of around 3,000, it is convicted and sentenced birds in the wild. 1993 TR A F FIC found up to secure the future for the island’s three Indonesia, Australia and New Zea l a n d . vulnerable to extinction and is threatened for smuggling hundreds The green-cheeked amazon to 700 birds illegally threatened forest-dependent parrots: Fort y - s e v en threatened parrot species occur by illegal trade and destruction of its of rar e birds. The critically is believed to number fewer entering the international the blackwinged lory, salvidori’s in Latin America and the Caribbean reg i o n , habitat. It requires large tree holes for en d a n g e r ed Lea r ’ s macaw than 6,500 birds, large l y market. Exposing this fig parrot and pesquet’s parrot. with Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and nesting and a regular supply of hard palm is one of the rar est of the because of trade. Other sudden threat led to quick Ecuador supporting the highest numbers fruits for food. One important area for the WWF-Indonesia is assessing forest fire blue macaws. A mere 100 species that have suffered international action, of threatened species. A further three hyacinth macaw is the Pantanal wetland damage and is lobbying industry bi r ds might remain in the include the red - b r owed and the trade was stopped. th r eatened species occur in the African region of Brazil, but much of the forest to increase companies’accountability wild, and sever al illegally am a z on of Brazil and the and Madagascar region. Par r ots have area there is being cleared for agriculture for the causes and effects of forest fires. ca p t u r ed examples have Pue r to Rican amazon. declined and continue to do so because and the entire region is seriously This work has implications for the whole been seized by authorities The latter is endemic to of large-scale destruction and degrad a t i o n threatened by the planned expansion of the Asia/Pacific region, and for parrot in recent years, notably in Pue r to Rico and may of their habitat and the trade in live birds . of a huge multinational waterway project. habitats across the world. the UK and Singapore. number just 50 in the wild.