The global trade in wild-caught birds for the pet market causes significant welfare harm through capture, transport mortality, and poorly adapted captive conditions.
The wild bird trade generates welfare harm at every stage: capture using mist nets, traps, and glue is stressful and injurious; transport in overcrowded containers causes high mortality; holding in unfamiliar conditions without appropriate diet, climate, or social contact causes further suffering. For species that survive to reach a buyer, the welfare challenges of captive life continue — many wild-caught birds never habituate to captivity. The EU import ban substantially reduced wild bird trade in Europe, demonstrating that regulatory intervention can be effective. Remaining markets drive continued capture pressure. Consumer choice to purchase only captive-bred individuals from reputable sources, combined with regulatory pressure on remaining wild-capture markets, are the primary levers available.