Historically,   African   grey   parrots   (Psittacus   erithacus)  occurred   in   large   numbers   in   lowland   tropical  rainforests   of  West   and  Central   Africa.   Seven  African  countries   sponsored   the   proposal:  Angola,   Chad,   Gabon,   Guinea,   Nigeria,  Senegal   and   Togo;   plus,   the   European  Union   and   the  United   States;   and  nine  more   African   countries   indicated  support  during   the   consultation  phase:  Burundi,   Ivory   Coast,   Ghana,   Guinea-­‐Bissau,   Liberia,   Niger,   Central   African  Republic,   Republic   of   Congo   and  Rwanda  (see  map).    Wild   populations   of   African   grey   parrots   have   been  greatly  reduced  due  to  the  pet  trade  and  destruction  

and  fragmentation  of  their  habitat.  It  is  estimated  that  the   populations   have   decreased   by   50-­‐90%   in   some  areas  of  distribution.  The  species  is  extinct  or  has  very  

low   numbers   in   Angola,   Benin,  Burundi,   Ivory   Coast,   Ghana,   Guinea,  Guinea-­‐Bissau,  Liberia,  Nigeria,  Kenya,  Rwanda,  Tanzania  and  Togo.      African   grey   parrots   are   highly  vulnerable   to   overexploitation.   They  are  slow  to   reproduce,  only  breeding  at   around   3-­‐5   years   of   age   and  producing   one   to   two   chicks   each  

year.   Their   gregarious   social   behavior   at   roosting,  feeding  and  breeding  sites  makes  them  easy  targets  for  trappers.  The  African  grey  parrot   is  highly  coveted  as  

Proposal to transfer the African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) from Appendix II to Apendix I of CITES

Recommendation: Support

(c) Sherry McKelvie  

PROPOSAL:  CoP17  Prop.  19  -­‐  Transfer  the  African  grey  parrot   (Psittacus  erithacus)   from  Appendix  II   to  Appendix   I  according  to  the  following  biological  criteria  of  Resolution  Conf.  9.24  (Rev.  CoP16),  Annex  1,  Paragraph  C)  i):  A  marked  decline  in  the  population  size  in  the  wild,  which  has  been  observed  as  ongoing.  Paragraph  C)  ii):  A  marked  decline  in  the  population  size  in  the  wild,  which  has  been  inferred  or  projected  on  the  basis  of  a  level  or  pattern  of  exploitation  and  a  decrease  in  quality  of  habitat  and  a  decrease  in  area  of  habitat  because  of  high  levels  of  deforestation  in  certain  areas.  

7  African  countries  sponsored  the  proposal  plus  the  EU  and  USA;  and  9  more  African  countries  indicated  

support.  

AFRICAN  GREY  PARROT  (Psittacus  erithacus)  

© Dana Allen  

 

               

 

an   exotic   pet   because   of   its   extraordinary   ability   to  vocalize,  learn  and  imitate  human  language.    

   In  1981,  CITES  Parties  listed  the  African  grey  parrot  in  Appendix   II   because   of   the   potential   impact   of  international   trade   on   wild   populations.   The   species  has  been  included  in  four  Significant  Trade  Reviews  of  the   Animals   Committee   of   CITES   (1988,   1992,   2006,  2014).   The   Significant   Trade   Review   showed   that  exports  from  1994  to  2003  represented  the  capture  of  up  to  21%  of  the  wild  population  each  year.  Currently,  Cameroon   is   the   only   country   that   has   published   an  export  quota  (3,000  per  year).  Until  January  2016,  the  

Democratic   Republic   of   Congo   (DRC)   had   a   quota   of  5,000   per   year,   but   this   quota  was   usually   exceeded  and   the   use   of   forged   permits   was   common.   In  January  2007,  the  Animals  Committee  imposed  a  ban  of  two  years  on  exports  and  in  January  2016,  the   66th  meeting   of   the   Standing   Committee   of  CITES  recommended  that  all  Parties  suspend  trade  in  African  grey  parrots  from  DRC.    African   grey   parrots   are   considered   to   be   the   third  most   traded  wild-­‐sourced  bird.   Exports  of  more   than  1.3  million  have  been  reported  since  1975.  However,  due  to  high  pre-­‐export  mortality  from  mishandling  and  unreported   and   illegal   trade,   the   true   number   of  parrots   taken   from   the   wild   for   international   export  may  range  between  two  and  three  million.    Capture   for   the  pet   trade   is   impacting  populations  of  grey   parrots   and   has   been   identified   as   a   cause   of  population   declines   in   at   least   20   of   the   22   range  states.   Unsustainable   levels   of   harvesting   are   due   to  badly  set  quotas,  poor  regulation  and  management  of  trade,   exceeded   quotas,   fraudulent   permits,   false  reports   of   code   C,   stolen   permits,   photocopied  permissions,   reused   permits   due   to   limited   capacity  and   resources   of   the   authorities,   high   pre-­‐export  mortality,   and   a   large   illegal   trade   due   to   weak  enforcement.    TRAFFIC  recommends  supporting  this  proposal  on  the  basis  that  "clearly  current  measures  in  place  to  protect   this   species   from   over-­‐exploitation   have  failed  over  a  number  of  years  and  are  continuing  to   do   so.   Given   the   above   irregularities   and  ongoing   reported  declines   caused  by   trapping,   a  suspension   of   further   trade   from   wild   sources  appears  to  be  in  the  conservation  interest  of  the  species".  

 

It  is  necessary  to  support  African  countries  wishing  to  protect  African  grey  parrots  from  extinction  by  including  the  species  in  Appendix  I  at  CoP17  in  South  Africa.