Illegal Wild Bird Trade and Welfare

The illegal trade in wild-caught birds for the pet market causes enormous welfare suffering through high capture and transport mortality, and contributes to species extinction.

Key Facts

An estimated 5 million wild birds are traded illegally each year
Capture methods including nets and glue traps cause injury and death
Up to 75% of captured birds die before reaching their destination
Species including African grey parrots, yellow-naped parrots, and finches are particularly targeted
CITES Appendix I protection bans international trade in the most threatened species

Welfare Considerations

Wild-caught birds suffer extreme stress during capture, transport, and the transition to captivity. Mortality rates during trafficking are enormous. Surviving birds face lifelong stress, as wild-caught birds rarely adapt fully to captivity. The welfare of billions of individual birds is affected globally. Species that are popular in the pet trade but difficult to breed in captivity, like the African grey parrot, face population-level impacts alongside individual welfare suffering.

What You Can Do

Never purchase wild-caught birds; always verify captive-bred origin
Ask for documentation confirming captive breeding when purchasing any parrot species
Report suspected illegal wild bird sales to Border Force or TRAFFIC
Support BirdLife International and TRAFFIC campaigns against illegal bird trade
Adopt birds from rescues rather than purchasing from breeders or pet shops