Animal Traffication

2009-03-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Markets of cities as centers of illegal trafficking of birds
Is 16:00. At the Three Steps to the Front Avenue and the stalls are pet ducks, chickens and dogs of various breeds, which are desperate to escape from captivity where they have to stay until a buyer.

So far, apparently, everything is normal and the eye is not seen traffic in wild birds. But if he consulted the owner of the premises where you can find parabas or parrots, the subject, after ascertaining that it is not an official of the Environment, said: "What kind are you looking for? In 24 hours we can get. We stopped in seven colors, which is U.S. $ 250, red with yellow us $ 150 and U.S. $ 200 in blue. " To check how far you can get, you just have to insist: "And how can I do to take it to overseas?, Is there to handle any authorization?"

- "No, not going to give permission, and if it succeeds, you will be charged more than it cost to stop" he replied.

- What options are there?

- "I can recommend a vet who can sedate, they are very busy and also will teach you how to pack. So does a customer who buys and brings us to the USA. His wife carries the bag in his hand. "

Quickly, the man registered the name and telephone number of the person interested in an exotic bird. Indicates that in a few hours confirm whether the species is desired. After hours call to indicate that owns stopped.

So shut the business of exotic birds in Santa Cruz. This is only the tip of an illicit business that nobody can stop in Bolivia.

The reality is that nearly 30,000 birds of different species (see chart), including rubrogenys Ara and Ara glaucogularis, parabas who draw attention for its rarity and because they were dying, left the market four years in Los Pozos.

If it is considered that a similar amount has been marketed in the service centers Ramada, El Abasto Neighborhood Fair and Lovely, the figure exceeded the 100,000 species that have been taken from their habitat and are now in homes as pets and other Bolivian are attracting foreign zoos or in part of the collection of some tycoon. The alarm call is given by the Civil Harmony Association, which conducts a program to protect those species with the support of the Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado.

A few meters from where they are sold parabas order to another location where dozens of Australian lorikeets enjoy the company of two large parrots and three parrots. The seller said that the parrot is Bs 380 galan, but it is up to Bs 350. It's looking for because it is easy to tame and quite talkative.

And no lie, the movements, the 'talk' and pirouettes of the animal confirmed the characteristics that women highlighted. But the joy of this contrasts with the sadness hack that shows his companion, whose plumage looks hurt, something that motivates ask why you are well. "Is it just for a few days to capture and remain stressed, do not want to eat until they are fit, but that other chick from what we have," answered the saleswoman.

What is the feeling you feel when you see a bird fly free, and what to see you locked in a cage? She asks pointedly biologist Abraham Rojas, as a reflection that the public is not involuntary accomplice of traffic. "They are found caged anywhere, because they have left by the illegal," he says.

Marketers have learned to be cautious with the sale of birds and show that while there are customers, there will be exotic birds for sale.

Data pens

- Three years ago it was estimated that there were between 1,500 and 3,000 copies of the Red Front stopped in wildlife. Today, the data show that Harmony in natural populations are less than 600 parabas Bluebeard, a species unique to the plains benianos. Stopped the Red Front, which is at the heart of Bolivia (valleys of Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz) has between 700 and 800 wild individuals, while in zoos and private collections, much more. This species is endemic to Bolivia, ie that there is elsewhere in the world.

- 20 years ago, a study by biologists foreign Bolivia had reported that 1272 species of birds. Currently the inventory conducted by the Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, reported 1414 species and nearly 5,000 specimens.

- Bolivia is the tenth largest in richness of biodiversity in the world and is the fifth richest country in wild birds, 65 of these are threatened by habitat destruction and illegal trafficking.

- The Daily Leon of Spain, in its digital edition in 2007 reported the dismantling of a banda engage in protected birds, including red face stopped solely for Bolivia. Managed to save 400 birds were valued at over one million euros. Some of them were without feathers due to stress.

THIS WAS TAKEN FORM EL DEBER JOURNAL.

HELP ANIMALS ( Computer Lab assignment CC)

Animal Traffication