Wildlife

Parrot Wild Trade Welfare

The international trade in wild-caught parrots has declined significantly following CITES protections but continues to cause welfare harm and conservation damage.

Key Facts

CITES Appendix I lists many parrot species following population declines from trade
Wild capture and transport mortality rates can exceed 80% for some species
Some parrot species continue to be illegally traded despite CITES protection
Captive breeding has expanded significantly following restrictions on wild capture

Welfare Considerations

Wild-caught parrots experience traumatic capture, high mortality during transport, and stress from holding facilities before reaching end buyers. For every parrot reaching a consumer, multiple birds die in the supply chain. Even captive-bred parrots from poorly managed operations may experience welfare problems from early separation and inappropriate socialization.

What You Can Do

Never purchase parrots from sources that cannot document captive breeding
Support CITES enforcement and demand reduction in parrot range countries
Adopt parrots from rescue organizations rather than purchasing
Report suspected illegal parrot trade to wildlife authorities