Working to end the wild bird trade
and return parrots to the wild
Protectors of the Parrots
'Protectors' explains the plight of parrots
worldwide, showing beautiful wild parrots, the perils of capture for
the pet trade, and the joys and challenges of living with these
birds in our homes.
Watch the video »
Use the navigation bar below to view photos from FlyFree projects around the world.
These Blue-fronted Amazons (Amazona aestiva) were harvested in 2005 for the EU market. Thanks to the permanent trade ban adopted by the EU in the summer of 2007 international trade in this species has been eliminated.
These Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) were confiscated at Nairobi Airport in the summer of 2009. They are currently being rehabilitated for eventual release to the wild.
Cage construction underway to house several hundred Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) confiscated in December 2007. Funding for the facilities was made possible by supporters who responded to an emergency appeal from the World Parrot Trust.
A World Parrot Trust sponsored veterinarian repairs the wing feathers of an injured Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) to assist in the bird's rehabilitation and release. Cameroon, spring 2008.
A group of Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) explore their new outdoor enclosure prior to release. Cameroon, spring 2008
This unfortunate bird is one found in the wild bird trade in Nepal. The World Parrot Trust and its partner, Bird Conservation Nepal, are conducting a 4-month study to learn more about this trade, and working to end it.
These birds (likely Psittacula sp.) are kept in a cramped container. The World Parrot Trust and its partners are working to end this trade.
Holding cages used as a final staging area prior to release Macaws, Amazon Parrots, and Conures. Rescue, rehabilitation and release completed by Associação Bichos da Mata. Brazil, October 2009
Two Blue and Gold Macaws (Ara ararauna) await their release to the wild. Rescue, rehabilitation and release completed by WPT partner - Associação Bichos da Mata. Brazil, October 2009
A group of rehabilitated macaws housed in a temporary aviary prior to their release to the wild in the fall of 2009. Brazil 2009
On the day of release these macaws cautiously explore their new surroundings outside of their temporary cage. Rescue, rehabilitation and release completed by WPT partner - Associação Bichos da Mata. Brazil, October 2009
Shortly before dusk this macaw explores a suitable roosting tree - the first time this bird has returned to the wild after several years of rehabilitation.
Limbe staff hoist a carrier holding Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) to the release site. 900 Grey Parrots were released over several months in 2007 and 2008.
One of over 900 Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) released in Cameroon after spending several months in rehabilitation to re-grow injured flight feathers. Summer 2008
Group of Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) returned to the wild in the spring of 2008.
WPT-sponsored veterinarian, volunteers and staff from the Limbe Primate Center set up a temporary field station to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate over 900 African Grey parrots confiscated in an illegal shipment in December of 2007.
Street vendors selling young parakeets (Psittacula sp.) in Asian bird market. This legal activity persists to this day.
A young bird dealer is selling parakeets (Psittacula sp.) in a bird market in SE Asia. The World Parrot Trust and its partners are working to end the wild bird trade in the remaining countries where it is found.
This rally was staged by WPT partner ProFauna Indonesia to draw attention to the plight of parrots and the wild caught bird trade.
5th and 6th graders with researchers from New Mexico State University standing in front of a mural of Yellow-naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) painted on the walls at their school in Costa Rica. The children learn about the parrots and why they should not be collected from the wild.
One of the beautiful Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) being rehabilitated by WPT partner ARCAS. The most recent release of these birds occurred in late November 2009.
Recently-released Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) seen feeding on wild fruits of the area.
Entering the famed Mayan ruins of Tikal. The release site was roughly 50 miles north of Tikal in Rio Azul.
The release site was only (and just barely) accessible by specially outfitted 4X4 trucks.
Recently-released parrots seen drinking water from bromelias and other epiphytes, a good sign.
Wildlife releases are great educational tools, and ARCAS staff made several stops along the way to Rio Azul to teach locals about the destructiveness of the illegal pet trade. Here, a child from the hunting village of Uaxactun tries to make sense of the fact that we were actually returning animals to the forest rather than extracting them.
Recently-released Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) seen feeding on wild fruits of the area.
Rio Azul is one of the few places in this overcrowded country were you can look out across tracts of untouched forest with no signs of man: no cell phone towers; no roads; no wisps of smoke.
The ladder up to the firetower from which the parrots were released.
Assembling the release cage. The cage was hoisted into the crown of the trees and the parrots were released from there.
Transferring the parrots from the transport to the release cage.
Parrots in the release cage ready to be hoisted into the trees.
Recently-released parrots seen drinking water from bromelias and other epiphytes, a good sign.
Recently-released Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) looks out over the Rio Azul, an area containing tracts of untouched forest.
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