PETEN, Guatemala―Twenty-eight parrots, most of them rescued and rehabilitated from the illegal wildlife trade, have been released back into the wild in Guatemala thanks to a project dedicated to helping trafficked wildlife, run by Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre (known as ARCAS) with the support of Humane World for Animals Costa Rica (formally called Humane Society International/Latin America).
The parrots were taken deep into the jungle of the Rio Azul National Park in Peten by the wildlife groups who embarked on a three-day journey by road and on foot to reach the undisclosed release site where the birds were set free.
Most of the parrots arrived at the ARCAS rescue center as chicks or juveniles after being confiscated by law enforcement officials or otherwise rescued within the past five years. The birds arrived with clipped wing feathers, a common practice in wild bird trafficking to prevent flight and facilitate their use as pets. Six individuals were found on the ground after falling from nests or trees during bad weather.
The parrot species represented in this release are all affected by deforestation, habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade. Snatched from their nests in the wild, parrots can be trafficked for hundreds of dollars each within Guatemala and transported for sale to countries in Latin America such as Mexico, as well as to countries in Europe and to the United States. The white-fronted amazon, red-lored amazon and the white-crowned parrot, are all included on the list of threatened species under Guatemalan law while the southern mealy amazon is endangered.
Andrea Borel, executive director of Humane World for Animals Costa Rica, said: “These parrots are lucky to be alive and have survived against the odds because mortality rates are high for birds trafficked for the pet trade. The wildlife trade is intimately linked to social economic challenges in Guatemala because the traffickers persuade individuals from some rural communities to enter the jungle and remove chicks from their nests in return for money or food. These species are already facing threats from habitat loss, not to mention the enormous welfare toll on the birds who are stolen from their wild homes and condemned to a life of captivity and deprivation.”
Since 2007, Humane World for Animals Costa Rica has partnered with ARCAS to rehabilitate and release wild bird, reptile and mammal victims of trafficking and cruelty in Guatemala. Often with support from the National Council of Protected Areas, known as CONAP, many hundreds of animals have been released into the wild thanks to this joint program.
Fernando Martinez, director of ARCAS Peten, said: “The parrot chicks were in a bad state when they came to us, weak and dehydrated with deliberate mutilation of their wings to prevent them from flying away. It’s always such a tragedy to see beautiful wild birds in these conditions, but our dedicated staff nursed them back to health and taught them the skills they will need to survive in the jungle where they belong. It’s been a long and stressful journey for these parrots since they were last among the forest trees, but it was thrilling to see them spread their wings in freedom once again.”
The released birds will be observed and monitored for 15 days to track their progress.
Download photos / videos of the parrot release
ENDS
