African grey parrot |
Two allegedly illegal shipments of wild African grey parrots were recently confiscated by wildlife authorities in Cameroon, the World Parrot Trust reported. The African greys, in two groups of 500 to 700 individual birds each, were destined for Mexico and the Middle East, the conservation and welfare group said, but wildlife authorities in coordination with Last Great Ape Organization conservation group intercepted the birds before they left the country. A Reuters report put the number of birds at 500, worth an estimated $400,000.
The World Parrot Trust, however, said that about 700 of the birds were immediately released and another 100 died, but about 300 of the parrots remain at the Limbe Wildlife Centre at the foot of Mount Cameroon where they are being treated for illness and emaciation. "The World Parrot Trust has also sent a veterinarian to assist with emergency medical supplies adn equipment," said Steve Milpacher, director of business development at the World Parrot Trust.
Through its donors, the Trust reported it made a donation of over $4,000 to the center to aid the birds’ rehabilitation and eventual release, but it issued an appeal shortly after, saying, “more funding is required to provide ongoing care for this convalescing group of parrots, now and for up to 9 more months.”
For more information, visit www.parrots.org/appeal.