Nearly 500 wild animals seized in downtown Lima

Peruvian officials raided an old building in downtown Lima where 478 wild animals were held in unsanitary conditions without food and water. Officials believe the animals were being held to be sold in the black market.

Among the animals confiscated were 434 canary-winged parakeets, seven yellow-footed tortoises, four monkeys, a blue-and-yellow macaw, 17 black-headed parrots, four red-fronted parrots, five white-eyed parakeets, four grey-cheeked parakeets and a green parakeet.

Click to read more ...

Grey-cheeked Parakeets in Guayaquil

The IUCN lists the Grey-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera) as endangered. According to birdlife international their decline was principally caused by the wild bird trade. With 59,320 birds reportedly imported by CITES countries between 1983-1988. In 1995, the wild population was estimated at 15,000 birds, principally in Ecuador. This represents a very crude decline of c.70% in 10 years, although it is still locally common in suitable habitat remnants.

Click to read more ...