Abstract
Illegal Wildlife Trade
and Aviculture
I received a telephone calJ one night from an outraged aviculturist.
No, he wasn't complaining about something I said nor a
bird he bought, but rather his excitement was due to an ad in the
local paper. Toucans were being advertised, at a rock bottom
price, and he was outraged as they were "obviously smuggled:'
My advice was, of course, simply don't buy them! When asked
what can we do to stop the activity, I replied "file a complaint
with the local USFWS law enforcement agent."
The fact is, we really don't know how many birds enter the
United States illegally. I've seen figures everywhere from
25,000 to 250,000. Like the drug trade and other contraband, the
exact amount entering the U.S. really isn't that important. The
fact is, however, that such activity is a direct threat to our avicultural
activities.
Illegally imported birds not only pose a health threat to your
birds but are contributing to endangerment of parrots in the
wild. The Green-cheeked Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) is a
good case in point. The species has been added to the newly
revised Red Data Book as in imminent danger of extinction.
Every illegal bird that crosses the Rio Grande contributes to its
endangerment. For those who are not concerned for the species
survival in the wild, another threat exists. Given that it is difficult
to actually observe individuals crossing the border with
parrots, the use of'' sting" operations are needed. (See article to
follow). Additionally, state legislation requiring the registering
and regulation of commonly smuggled species is likely on the
horizon. The avicultural community would prefer not to have to
deal with either situation. The answer is simple, stop the smuggling.
This means a changing of attitudes. AFA has made steps
in this direction through the printing and distribution of an antismuggling
poster. Additionally, a short public service
announcement has been produced for local television stations
that suggests you either know the breeder (source) of your bird
well or purchase closed banded (or microchipped) birds. As a
final step, the AFA president, legal counsel and CITES chair
have begun a dialog with the various government and nongovernmental
individuals with an interest in trade. Thus far, this
has involved not only discussions with USFWS and APHIS
officials in Washington D. C. but with local USFWS law
enforcement officials at the border itself.
How can you help? First, get the word out that avi culturi sts
are ''sick and tired of smuggling and are not going to tolerate it
any more" . Do this through sales of the anti-smuggling T-shirt,
distribution of the poster and viewing of the PSA on your local
station.
Finally, if someone tries to sell you a bargain bird or mentions
that they have purchased smuggled birds, respond to them that
you are emphatically opposed to the activity.
Self regulation is always preferred to governmental regulation.
This is one situation where, as the old Indian proverb goes,
"When cobwebs unite, they can tie up a ti ger:· We need to get
together and change the apathetic tolerance of this activity to a
demonstrated, active intolerance. If we don 't, both aviculture
and the birds will lose.
ForT-sh irts and posters, contact the AFA business office. The
PSA (Public Service Announcement) is available by telephoning
1-210-828-5306.