Hard on the heels of the Cameroonian Parrot trade bust (and the subsequent release of hundreds of African Grey Parrots back to the wild) — here’s some really great news from Mexico.
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Thanks to my good friend Juan Carlos Cantu for the information.
The Mexican Senate approved a bill to ban capture and export of Mexican wild parrots (66 votes in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention). This comes exactly a year after the Deputy Chamber had first drafted and approved the bill (300 votes in favor, 0 against, 2 abstentions).
The original bill was drafted by the Deputies after a presentation of the report “The Illegal Parrot Trade in Mexico. A Comprehensive Assessment” by Defenders of Wildlife and Teyeliz, A.C. which documented for the first time the volume of the illegal trade of parrots. An estimated 65,000-78,500 are being captured illegally each year, with overall mortality exceeding 75% before reaching the purchaser. This translates into about 50,000 to 60,000 dead parrots per year.
Mexico harbors 22 species of parrots and macaws, of which 90% are in some category of risk. The latest Mexican classification (yet to be published) puts 11 species in Danger of Extinction, 5 species Threatened, 4 species under special protection, and 2 species unclassified.
Wow! This is sure to make a lasting and positive difference to the long-term survival prospects for wild parrots in Mexico — thanks to the hard work of conservationists and a government that cares.
Blogging off!
Will