Magazine of the World Parrot Trust May 2002 No.51 PsittaScene PsittaSceneParrots in the Wild Kakapo chicks in the nest (Strigops habroptilus) Photo by DON MERTON The most productive season since Kakapo have been intensively managed, 26 chicks had hatched by April. The female called Flossie Members’had two. Seen here are twoExpedition! young she hatched in February 1998. Our report on page 16 describes how she feeds her chicks 900 rimu fruits at each feed - at least four times every night! Supporting parrot conservation in the wild and promoting parrot welfare in captivity. Printed by Brewers of Helston Ltd. Tel: 01326 558000. ‘psittacine’ (pronounced ‘sit a sin’) meaning ‘belonging or allied to the parrots’ or ‘parrot-like’ 0 PsittaPsitta African Grey Parrot SceneScene Trade in Cameroon Lobeke National Park Editor By ANASTASIA NGENYI, Volunteer Biologist, Rosemary Low, WWF Jengi SE Forest Project, BP 6776, Yaounde, Cameroon Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall, The forest region of Lobeke in the Southeast corner of Cameroon has TR27 4HB, UK been the focus of attention over the past decade at national and international level, owing to its rich natural resource. Its outstanding conservation importance is due to its abundance of Anastasia Ngenyi. fauna and the rich variety of commercial tree species. Natural CONTENTS resources in the area face numerous threats due to the increased demand in resource exploitation by African Grey Parrot Trade ..................2-3 the local communities and commercial pressure owing to logging and poaching for the bush meat trade. Palm Sunday Success ............................4 The area harbours an unusually high density of could generate enormous revenue that most likely Conservation Beyond the Cage ..............5 forest mammals' particularly so-called "charismatic would surpass present income from illegal trade in Palm Cockatoo Conservation ..............6-7 megafauna" such as elephants, gorillas and parrots. In addition, a booming local eco-tourism chimpanzee. industry involving the local communities should The Help at Hand ................................8-9 guarantee long-term support of these communities The avifauna of the region is very rich: more than A Journey through Brazil ................10-13 to conservation initiatives. Present trade in parrots 283 species. The forest clearings attract a lot of does not benefit the local communities as it is Members’ Expedition ............................13 African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and Green disorganised and carried out clandestinely. Action Grants Programs ......................14 Pigeons (Treron australis). Puerto Rican Parrot Status ..................15 The richness of the forest in various commercial species has attracted many timber companies to the Forest clearings (bais) PsittaNews ......................................16-17 area. Most of the forest area in Lobeke has been The "bais" are characterised by grasses (Cyperaceae) Trade Ban Petition / Volunteers logged at least thrice over the past 30 years. associated with marshy and riparian vegetation. Required ..............................................18 Currently most logging practices are unsustainable Their occurrence is naturally caused by geological and could in the long term constitute a major threat and hydrological factors, although the habitat is WPT Admin Page ..................................19 to biodiversity and conservation of natural maintained by intense mammal activity. Lobeke has Parrots in the Wild ..............................20 resources in the region. several forest clearings; four are prominent due to their year round access. There is already minimum The majority of Grey Parrots in Lobeke inhabit infrastructure to support research work through forest clearings in which they feed on various plants ecological monitoring studies. These bais were and on natural soil rich in mineral salts; they nest highly frequented by poachers and safari sport in trees 10-30m high. Most of the birds caught are hunters for big game hunting prior to the creation destined for parrot trade in Europe and to some of a national park. Many bais in the region are still extent South Africa and Asia. Eighty percent come frequented, principally for parrot trapping, fishing from the Lobeke forest. Two forest clearings in and elephant hunting. This has seriously Lobeke, Bolou and Djangui harbour significant contributed to the decline in animal abundance. populations of Grey Parrots. More than 15,000 birds Current management efforts are geared towards are taken out from these two clearings each year with protection of these bais, with anti-poaching patrols half dying due to poor handling. and effective presence of monitoring teams in the Lobeke National Park areas. Two bais are of great importance to this study, the The Lobeke National Park, LNP, covers an area of Bolou and Djangue. These two bais are special, due 2,125Km and is situated in the Boumba and Ngoko to their vegetation and rich mineral soil Cover Picture Division, southeast Cameroon. composition. They are also special because they are By Jamie Gilardi. Lobeke is a dense semi-deciduous forest, the only two bais in the entire region highly Queued for clay! A Green-winged Macaw (Ara characterised by a patchwork of high forest, frequented by parrots and in which parrot capture chloroptera) waiting its turn at the Clay Licks in secondary forest and low-lying swamp interwoven is intense. It is estimated that more than 12,000 Manu, Peru. with a mosaic of maranthaceae forest, mono- birds are captured each year from these bais for dominant stands and forest clearings. The export trade. Green Pigeons although also widely The World Parrot Trust announces its first vegetation is described in detail by Gartlan (1989) captured are consumed locally and are found in Expedition. Travel with Rosemary Low and Dr. although summarised as being swamp / transitional almost all bais in the region. Charles Munn to see the Parrots of the Bolivian closed forest, part of the evergreen Cameroon- Highlands and the Clay Licks of Manu, Peru, in Congolese forest types. Whilst much of the habitat August 2002. is natural, logging over the past 30 years has For full information turn to page 13 or look on contributed to the opening of the canopy in several our website. areas of the forest. This patchwork of the forest types promotes a high diversity and an abundance of mammals in the region. The World Parrot Trust does not necessarily endorse The large marshy forest clearings that characterised any views or statements made by contributors to PsittaScene. Lobeke forest eco-system are locally known as "bais". They include saline soils and / or riparian It will of course consider articles or letters from any vegetation associated with marsh or dry grassland contributors on their merits. habitat, notably the Cyperaceae. Owing to their rich Anyone wishing to reprint any articles in full or in saline soils, the bais attract a lot of forest fauna. part seen in this magazine needs permission from the author and must state that it was copied from PsittaScene. Eco-tourism potential Lobeke is said to be one of the highest parrot All contents © World Parrot Trust These forest clearings are of great potential in terms trapping zones, with 80% of the Grey Parrots from of eco-tourism if they are properly managed. They Cameroon harvested from this area. 2 ■ PsittaScene February 2002, No 50 The annual quota for Cameroon is 12,000 Grey Parrots, but each year more than 15,000 are exported. It is therefore important to re-established legislation to control and regulate this trade. This will lead to a sustainable management of this very important bird species and a limitation of parrot laundering through other countries. Cameroon accounted for 50% of the total specimens exported from all countries in 1995 and is still one of the highest exporters of African Grey Parrots today. Perhaps there should be a call for an alternative solution to the current commercial exploitation. This alternative should be either biological or economical; to help in one way or the other to reduce Grey Parrot exploitation and provide a strategic solution to economically support the More than 15,000 birds are taken out from these The Grey Parrots are put into small cases of about two clearings each year with half dying due to parrot trappers. Eco-tourism seems a good idea to 1.5 x 2m, 100 to 150 in each, to be transported. fit this profile (economically) and continuing studies poor handling. of African Grey Parrots should help in future to evaluate the biological trend of Grey Parrots and A large number of Grey Parrots are attracted by the mostly done in the night to avoid wildlife law their reproductive aspects. natural soils of Djangue bai. Green Pigeons were enforcement officers. seen in thousands, mostly in the mornings and Living in the wild, Grey Parrots do not quickly adapt evenings. Parrot trapping was noted to be highest Lobeke is said to be one of the highest parrot to ordinary food like maize, due to their habit of during the dry season of December and January, trapping zones, with 80% of the Grey Parrots from feeding on mineral soil and special vegetation, and September that represents the late wet season Cameroon harvested from this area and particularly consequently they die from starvation and stress in the region. from the two clearings mentioned. Of every 10 Grey once taken out of their habitat of origin. Parrots exported from Cameroon, at least 7 are from Transportation over-night of Grey Parrots to avoid The Bolou bai situated on the southern edge of LNP the Lobeke region and SE forest region. The Grey security checks results in poor handling and is characterised by marshes and swamps. This Parrots are put into small cases of about 1.5 x 2m, negligence of the parrots. All the trappers care probably accounts for the high abundance of 100 to 150 in each, to be transported to Yaounde about is reaching their destination without being sitatunga compared to other species, especially (distance of about 680m).