Smuggled birds taste freedom again

SIXTY-SIX of the Ruppel’s Parrots confiscated by Namibian border police from a smuggler near Onhelewa at the Namibia-Angolan border in September have been released back into the wild.

Hobatere, on the western border of the Etosha National Park and a site west of Swartbooisdrift on the Kunene River were selected as release sites. All the birds have been ringed for possible identification later.The smuggler, who evaded arrest and fled back into Angola, had crammed the parrots into a small wire cage (just 25x60x40 cm) and the birds were in a poor condition when the Police confiscated them.Erwin Tjikuua of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at Ondangwa alerted Dr Pauline Lindeque, MET’s Director of Scientific Services, about the confiscation.Tjikuua then personally transported the birds to Windhoek.The parrots were kept in quarantine at the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Education Centre (Narrec) in Windhoek for a month during which time they were treated for injuries, external and internal parasites and the malnutrition that they had suffered.Food for the parrots during the captive month at Narrec was donated by A and R Pet Supplies.Ruppel’s Parrots Facts: 1.Ruppel’s Parrots only occur in Namibia and southern Angola making them “near-endemic” to our country.2.The Namibian population is estimated to be about 10 000.Most of the population survive on communal and commercial farmlands with a small percentage in the Etosha and Waterberg National Parks.3.In Namibia it is assumed that the parrots are mainly poached by farmers and farmworkers for the cage-bird trade.4.Studies indicate that between 600 to 1 000 Ruppel’s are illegally smuggled out of Namibia each year.They are destined largely for South Africa and Europe (principally Germany).5.Because of appalling treatment and transport conditions it is estimated that 70 to 80 per cent of smuggled Ruppel’s Parrots die in transit.6.Birds that survive the ordeal of capture and transport are often in a very poor condition.7.It is difficult to breed these birds in captivity and aviculturalists believe that this species choose a life-mate.8.The illegal trade in wild parrots is considered to be the biggest threat to this species because of the drain it has on the adult population.9.It has been declared a Specially Protected Species in Namibia’s draft Parks and Wildlife Management Bill 2002.10.Narrec has produced colour posters “Parrots and Lovebirds of Namibia” which will be used to alert customs officials, school children and the general public to the identity and plight of parrots.11.Scientific name Poicephalus ruepellii.12.With the recent spread of bird flu and the increasing possibility of a human flu pandemic that could threaten the lives of millions of people many governments are now making the importing of ALL wild birds illegal.13.The parrot family is the most threatened bird family in the world because of habitat destruction, mainly deforestation, and the illegal bird trade.- Article contributedAll the birds have been ringed for possible identification later.The smuggler, who evaded arrest and fled back into Angola, had crammed the parrots into a small wire cage (just 25x60x40 cm) and the birds were in a poor condition when the Police confiscated them.Erwin Tjikuua of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at Ondangwa alerted Dr Pauline Lindeque, MET’s Director of Scientific Services, about the confiscation.Tjikuua then personally transported the birds to Windhoek.The parrots were kept in quarantine at the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Education Centre (Narrec) in Windhoek for a month during which time they were treated for injuries, external and internal parasites and the malnutrition that they had suffered.Food for the parrots during the captive month at Narrec was donated by A and R Pet Supplies.Ruppel’s Parrots Facts: 1.Ruppel’s Parrots only occur in Namibia and southern Angola making them “near-endemic” to our country.2.The Namibian population is estimated to be about 10 000.Most of the population survive on communal and commercial farmlands with a small percentage in the Etosha and Waterberg National Parks.3.In Namibia it is assumed that the parrots are mainly poached by farmers and farmworkers for the cage-bird trade.4.Studies indicate that between 600 to 1 000 Ruppel’s are illegally smuggled out of Namibia each year.They are destined largely for South Africa and Europe (principally Germany).5.Because of appalling treatment and transport conditions it is estimated that 70 to 80 per cent of smuggled Ruppel’s Parrots die in transit.6.Birds that survive the ordeal of capture and transport are often in a very poor condition.7.It is difficult to breed these birds in captivity and aviculturalists believe that this species choose a life-mate.8.The illegal trade in wild parrots is considered to be the biggest threat to this species because of the drain it has on the adult population.9.It has been declared a Specially Protected Species in Namibia’s draft Parks and Wildlife Management Bill 2002.10.Narrec has produced colour posters “Parrots and Lovebirds of Namibia” which will be used to alert customs officials, school children and the general public to the identity and plight of parrots.11.Scientific name Poicephalus ruepellii.12.With the recent spread of bird flu and the increasing possibility of a human flu pandemic that could threaten the lives of millions of people many governments are now making the importing of ALL wild birds illegal.13.The parrot family is the most threatened bird family in the world because of habitat destruction, mainly deforestation, and the illegal bird trade.- Article contributed