African Grey Parrot

Knowing the Facts About
Having a CITES Permit

Whenever you consider acquiring or have an exotic animal, you have to think beyond a cage and food pellets. When considering birds, there are many restrictions and regulations that serve mainly to protect the animal and the people who have them.

That is why if you have or are thinking of acquiring an African grey parrot, you must consider the African grey parrot and cites permit and encourage the importance of said document worldwide.

What are we talking about when we are referring to the African grey parrot and cites permit? First let me explain what CITES means and stands for.

CITES  is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, it is an international agreement between Governments of nations throughout the world. It aims to ensure that the trade in specimens of wild animals and plants is not threatened and its survival is encouraged internationally.

The African grey parrot and cites permit, protects the African Grey by regulating the import, export, and re-export through an international convention authorized through a licensing system. Without the African grey parrot and cites permit, this incredible bird and the world would suffer from its possible loss.

As a part of the international agreement, a Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species.

The African Grey  originated in the Lowland forests of central Africa, in the Guinea Islands, in Kenya, and in Tanzania.

In addition to the African grey parrot and cites permit, certain nations are doing their best to protect this and other species of bird from poachers and irresponsible hunters. In a bid to prevent the bird from becoming extinct, the Ikodi people have resorted to setting up vigilante groups to try to protect the birds.

Nigeria is a member of the CITES group, which is run by the United Nations. The African grey parrot and cites permit is listed under Appendix I. This means trade in the bird is strictly controlled. Offenders face a one year prison sentence for capture of the bird.

Though through the African grey parrot and cites permit, the African grey is listed as an endangered species, those non-member countries like  Principe, are not bound by the restrictions otherwise imposed internationally by CITES  and therefore the African grey parrot and cites permit  will not protect this bird in countries not bound by its restrictions.

Ikodi and Principe are just two case studies, each facing different problems that with the membership of an African grey parrot and cites permit many of the problems would be resolved.  

Since CITES can not force the requirement in any nation of an African grey parrot and cites permit, other regulations must be strengthened to dissuade countries from continuing to support the harvest of this bird through imports.

Some effort has been made to breed the parrots in captivity, this effort is obviously not enough to satisfy the demand, otherwise illegal trade would not be happening. Further efforts therefore need to be made in this area, in addition to the African grey parrot and cites permit, education, as always, is the key.