Heartbreaking :(

[Carolina]

The plight of wild greys:

 

http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2013/09/26/watching-congos-grey-parrots-perish/#more-3007

[judygram]

How horrible, the despicable bastards!

[Timbersmom]

I just can't even watch this stuff...

[Talon]

Can't look...

[Mistyparrot]

Thanks for posting this. If we love Greys we cannot ignore the horrors that are happening in Africa with the practically uncontrolled illegal trade that is still going on.

 

Steve n Misty

[Lupine]

From a raptor-lover's perspective....We see a lot of this with birds of prey, as well. Hunted for food or feathers, netted by the dozens. There is also a smuggling problem in Russia for gyrfalcons shipped under horrible conditions to the Middle East, but from what I understand most of the big-time falconers over there prefer to purchase their birds from the highly-regarded American breeders (one of whom is a friend of mine, whose project is amazing. I helped him and his staff prep and ship dozens of birds overseas, and the precautions he takes for the birds are amazing. The paperwork alone takes hours.).

 

Though falconry is a huge part of Arab culture (though it actually originated in China 3000-4000 years ago) they are so hands-on with their birds, cleaning up after every poop, that they really don't have a grasp on the idea that breeding pairs need to be left alone.

 

As a note... wind turbines in the US kill thousands upon thousands of raptors each year, particularly Golden eagles. There are better designs available, but for whatever reason---cost, etc., they're not implemented. And energy companies all but get a pass for the kills.

 

Rodenticides, such as D-Con, kill thousands upon thousands of raptors and other wildlife that eat the affected rodents.

 

We think of avian species as being a vast resource, but one only has to look at the passenger pigeon to realize how quickly we can destroy a species.

 

That greys are among our favorites, and known to have self-awareness, definitely heightens the heartbreak. Whether we hunt animals, farm them, capture them for our own uses as live hunting birds or pets, we have a responsibility to treat all creatures with respect and dignity, and with minimal suffering. That's what makes us human.

[danmcq]

It is always disturbing to read and see stories like this. Unfortunately, it will continue as long as there is a market for them and countries do not ban the import of wild caught greys.

[Ray P]

The world must start to honor and protect their wild life while they have it.

[Cosmos_Friend]

This is disturbing! I've read that Greys are also captured for their tail feathers.

 

~Rick