Officers assigned to the Bagaces cantonal precinct of the Guanacaste province rescued four baby parrots, which were in danger of suffocation. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP) the baby birds were being peddled by a suspect who has a history of trafficking in exotic species.
The rescue took place in the community of San Antonio. The man was going door-to-door selling parrots, which some families in Costa Rica enjoy keeping as pets. Neighbors from this Guanacaste community were concerned that the man showed no regard in keeping the baby parrots safe and comfortable; witnesses noticed that the young birds were stuffed inside a duffel bag during one of the hottest days of the year.
Once neighbors notified the police about this situation, officers from Fuerza Publica (the national police force of Costa Rica) were dispatched to check on the welfare of the baby parrots. They tracked down the man, who was still trying to sell the baby parrots, and confronted him. A preliminary report showed that the man had prior run-ins with the law for suspicious activity related to exotic species smuggling.
The Fuerza Publica officers immediately confiscated the birds and transferred them to a cage where they were able to enjoy fresh air. A prosecutor from Liberia requested that the suspect be detained so that he could be interviewed and possibly charged with an offense related to the Law of Wildlife Conservation.
With regard to the adorable baby parrots, they seemed to be in good health and were transferred to a local office from the Ministry of the Environment, where they will be further evaluated by wildlife experts for their possible return to a suitable habitat, preferably in one of Guanacaste’s national parks or wildlife preserves.