BirdsCaribbean announces the launch of a petition, for the return of 12 Dominican parrots from Germany

Photo: Stephen Durand

​Q95 news can confirm that BirdsCaribbean, an international network committed to conserving Caribbean birds, has announced the launch of a petition, geared at returning 12 parrots which were transported from Dominica to Germany, in a manner that many Dominicans including some government supporters, deem to be illegal. The organization has published that information on its official website birdscaribbean.org.
 
The controversy was recently started on Social Media, where it was alleged that the parrots were smuggled from the country in March 2018. Q95 news was the first agency to report on the matter. After initial silence on the issue with no prior public notice of the transfer, the government of Dominica said the birds were taken to be entered in a breeding program to help repopulate the species, following the decimation of their habitat post Hurricane Maria.
 
The permanent secretary for agriculture, the minister for agriculture, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RCF), and a writer for Talking Birds Magazine of Australia, have all expressed their views on the matter. Some experts and enthusiasts are categorically opposed to the action which was taken by the government, while the Dominica government itself remains adamant, that all the correct procedures were followed.
 
The Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) received the 10 Jacko and 2 Sisserou Parrots on behalf of the Dominican government. ACTP has been ordered to house the birds in Germany. On their website, the Association claims they had the cooperation with all governments involved, and said claims that the parrots were moved and acquired by illegitimate means, as “fake news”.