THE pet trade is driving parrots to extinction. And Europe and Asia are to
blame for not implementing laws that could stop the import of illegally poached
exotic birds. So say an international team of researchers who have collected the
first hard evidence of the extent of the illegal trade.
Parrots are among the most endangered birds—nearly one third of species
native to the neotropics are considered at risk of global extinction. While
habitat loss is behind the decline of many species, the new findings suggest
poaching may be as big a threat.
“We’ve really had very little handle on what is going on with the illegal…
