THE EXOTIC BIRD TRADE

My name is Sarah. I am 10 years old 
and in 5th grade. I love animals  and 
want   to   be  a  wildlife veterinarian 
someday. I  have  taken care of three 
cats,  a dog,  a  bearded   dragon  and 
thirteen    fish.    I    have  also  helped 
numerous   wild   animals   including 
baby rabbits and a robin.  


This is my  second  article.  You  can 
read about palm oil and orangutans 
here!

---

by Sarah

Exotic bird trade is exactly how it sounds; people are taking birds from their habitat and illegally trading them to people who want one of these cool creatures. It may not seem like a huge deal but exotic birds like macaws, parrots and others are dying because of stress, being cramped in boxes, disease, and even people not knowing the proper care for these kinds of birds. Wild birds need outdoor qualities like trees, fresh air, food that is not in a bag and some more necessities. Birds have been abused and are suffering because of this illegal act.

---

To get exotic birds humans have been laying nasty, sticky, goop all over tree branches so when a bird rests on a branch they cannot move. This is called ‘’liming.’’ In 1992 the US government passed a law that all bird trade was declared illegal. Did you know that 94% of exotic birds have died because of trading? Gorgeous birds like parrots are sold for $1,000 in the US? 75% are also taken from their homes to be traded! According to DNIA news on March 24, 2014 police officers caught a man taking 160 birds (100 adults and 60 chicks) across the US border. 

An endangered bird species, the Gray Parrot, is on the verge of extinction due to trouble caused by one bird trade gone wrong. In conclusion, exotic birds are going to be extinct because of human carelessness towards exotic birds. 

BIRD MARKET IN INDONESIA

Bibliography:

www.birdgardensofnaples.org www.onegreenplanet.com 
www.birdwildlife.com 
www.dnaindia.com
journals.cambridge.org 
voices.nationalgeographic.com 
www.allcreatures.com