Smuggled African grey parrots set free

Wildlife conservationists in Uganda have sent 17 of the 108 African grey parrots back to the wild after they were captured from illegal traders, local sources reported on Thursday.

The 108 parrots were confiscated by airport officials in Bulgaria about three years ago. Their destination or point of departure was not known.

Of the 108 birds, 32 were returned to Uganda because of its conservation record and 17 were released to the wild at Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria on Wednesday. Eleven of them are still under special care and the rest have died.

"The bird (species) we are releasing today in the wild is one of the most sought bird in Africa, many of them are being illegally captured for illegal trade and sold outside Africa," said Julius Kasigwa, a veterinary doctor with Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

"This is the first time where birds which have gone out of Africa are being brought back to Africa."

The African grey parrot is an endangered species known for its very high intelligence. One bird could fetch up to 2,000 U. S. dollars on the black market, according to conservationists.

"They are quite intelligent birds, they have a vocabulary of up to 1,600 word, that is the reason why they are sought out in the wild, they can mimic, they can memorize, they can differentiate," said Kasigwa. Xinhua