The global trade in native Australian parrots through Singapore between 2005 and 2011: a summary of trends and dynamics

Abstract

Despite high overseas demand for native Australian parrots, there are few published studies quantifying the global trade in this group of birds. This study investigates the global trade in Australian parrots listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) via Singapore, a transit hub for the trade in exotic wildlife. Between 2005 and 2011, 19964 Australian parrots, of 27 species and 2 subspecies, listed in Appendices I and II of CITES were imported into Singapore, of which 10935, of 22 species and 2 subspecies, were subsequently exported, accounting for 10% of all reported bird trade by Singapore. Major exporters of Australian parrots, all of which were declared as captive-bred, include the Netherlands and South Africa, with major consumer markets in Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. The high overseas demand for Australian parrots, coupled with the lack of a systematic reporting and monitoring framework for wildlife trade in many countries, is potentially being exploited by wildlife smugglers within and outside of Australia. These findings have important implications for future efforts to legalise the controlled export of native parrots from Australia.