200 parrots returned to the wild
Jul 29, 2011
TWO hundred African parrots have been released into the wild by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
TWO hundred African parrots have been released into the wild by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
The birds have been in custody of the authority for the past six months after they were rescued from smugglers.
Officials at UWA reintroduced the grey birds to their natural habitat in the Kibale national park yesterday.
Lilian Nsubuga, the Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson, said some of the birds were unable to fly because they had been in captivity for long.
“At first they refused to come out but eventually they started moving and flying off,†she said.
She also said the birds that were unable to fly because of weight or damaged wings would be returned to the zoo.
Nsubuga said the parrots were secretly transported to the park recently in special containers.
“They were tagged with a ring on their beaks and monitored by a team of wildlife experts,’’ Nsubuga said.
The Police recovered about 130 birds in January as they were being illegally taken to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
No one has yet been arrested in connection with the parrots, wildlife authorities said.
Dozens of the birds later died after tests carried out by wildlife authorities showed that they had been sedated with alcohol-infused sugarcane ahead of the journey.
A second consignment of over 100 birds was later discovered at a warehouse close to Uganda’s main airport in Entebbe following a tip-off.
Wildlife officials said the birds were likely being smuggled to Europe, America or East Asia.
The birds can cost up to $2,000 (about sh5m) each on the black market.
Trade in African grey parrots is restricted under an international treaty regulating the cross-border trade in endangered species.
Uganda is known for its rich bird life with over 1,000 species documented in the country.
The birds have been in custody of the authority for the past six months after they were rescued from smugglers.
Officials at UWA reintroduced the grey birds to their natural habitat in the Kibale national park yesterday.
Lilian Nsubuga, the Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson, said some of the birds were unable to fly because they had been in captivity for long.
“At first they refused to come out but eventually they started moving and flying off,†she said.
She also said the birds that were unable to fly because of weight or damaged wings would be returned to the zoo.
Nsubuga said the parrots were secretly transported to the park recently in special containers.
“They were tagged with a ring on their beaks and monitored by a team of wildlife experts,’’ Nsubuga said.
The Police recovered about 130 birds in January as they were being illegally taken to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
No one has yet been arrested in connection with the parrots, wildlife authorities said.
Dozens of the birds later died after tests carried out by wildlife authorities showed that they had been sedated with alcohol-infused sugarcane ahead of the journey.
A second consignment of over 100 birds was later discovered at a warehouse close to Uganda’s main airport in Entebbe following a tip-off.
Wildlife officials said the birds were likely being smuggled to Europe, America or East Asia.
The birds can cost up to $2,000 (about sh5m) each on the black market.
Trade in African grey parrots is restricted under an international treaty regulating the cross-border trade in endangered species.
Uganda is known for its rich bird life with over 1,000 species documented in the country.