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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 21, 2005 9:09:27 GMT -7
I started this thread because of the plight of so many endangered species of animals, fishes and birds. And I beleive these forums are good avenues for informing, educating and bringing light to to their destruction.
The animals on this planet are on a rapid decline. Some are on the verge of extinction while the rest will eventually meet their demise at some point in time. Parrots like the red front macaw, the Sphinx and hawk headed Amazon are virtually hanging on by a thread where there are fewer than 500 left in the wild. There are many reasons why this is happening so for the sake of this discussion I will take a position as the devil’s advocate and say, part of the reason is because of you so call bird lovers who encourage the industry by keeping birds as pets while they should be free to roam the skies. Don’t use “home bred” as an excuse because breeders buy wild caught to strengthen their bloodlines so indirectly you are still part of the reason. Am I right? Let me have it but be nice, give me the reasons why you think I am wrong and why you think so many species of animals will experience the same fate as the Do Do bird.
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Post by spookyhurst on Jul 21, 2005 15:19:02 GMT -7
I too worry about the endangered animals of the world. I read that even species of insects are rapidly disappearing.
I would (partially) disagree with your bird owner hypothesis for 2 reasons though:
1. It's been illegal to import birds for awhile now, and people would be looking at some big time trouble if they smuggled them in. Seems kind of risky. Although big time breeders might be willing to take the risk, it doesn't seem like it should be too terribly widespread.
2. A lot of breeders are more "hobbyists" than looking to make a bunch of money. One that I'm looking at is a family (with home schooled kids) who raise birds as kind of a project. I really don't see them going to the trouble to smuggle a bird. Plus, they're kind of on the religious side, so they would probably have moral reservations about doing such a thing.
I'm sure there are some unscrupulous sorts who illegaly obtain wild birds, but I think if your're careful about who you buy your bird from, you should be able to avoid those sorts.
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Post by spookyhurst on Jul 21, 2005 15:25:04 GMT -7
I thought of something else to add. Maybe the use of illegaly obtained wild birds could be stemmed if people were required to license their birds like they do their dogs. A valid leg band would be required to license it (birds bought before the law was instated could be grand-father claused from the band requirement). Bird breeders could be inspected to make sure all there birds were licensed.
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 21, 2005 22:16:45 GMT -7
I agree that importation of wild parrots into America has been banned but birds are still being imported and smuggled into Europe. Very recently, hundreds of parrot were found in a ship bounded for a port in Spain and from there to other places unknown..
I also agree that many breeders do it as a hobby but there are also hundreds of "bird farms" that are baby mills like they do with dogs and cats.
Further more why breed more babies when there are so many abandoned parrots filling sanctuaries to capacity. I read an article about a study that was done on bird owners. What was found was that nine out of ten had more than one bird and almost forty percent had more than two. And to compound the problem, many are still aquiring more birds even though they can't afford the time or money to properly keep them happy and healthy. Where do you think some of these birds would eventually end up?
As in trading, demand and supply are the driving forces for the bird farming, poaching and smuggling.
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 21, 2005 22:20:39 GMT -7
The implementation bird licenses has been discussed and tossed around the table many times over. The bottom line is that it will cost too much and very difficult to enforce. Micro-chipping is a much better method and can be easily implemented if all breeders could implant it into every baby and owners could get theirs done by their vets. All information about any bird can be obtained by simply scanning the chip. Like everything else, it must first be agreed upon by all and then there must be a starting point.
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Post by spookyhurst on Jul 21, 2005 22:29:11 GMT -7
I would adopt a grey over buying one, but I have yet to find one in my area. I'm also considering fostering birds instead of buying/adopting one.
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 5,912
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Post by Preston on Jul 23, 2005 13:11:31 GMT -7
Your never going to convince third world countries from selling there commodities on the black market. Try telling South America to stop burning rain forrests to grow food to sell to the world. Look at it this way: as long as there are Grey lovers like us, they will live forever. It's the best we can hope for right now. Greed drives the world now a days, and we will soon be sorry. In the Congo and surrounding areas CAGs are food; at least we are keeping them as pets and not slaughtering them like the buffalo.
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 23, 2005 18:13:21 GMT -7
Black markets only exist because there are buyers. The ban on importation of parrots has caused the harvesting of eggs which is even more of a catastrophe because as we all know parrots breed only once and on rare ocassions twice a year.
You are right, loss of habitat is now the biggest contributor to the decline of wildlife. And yes, the majority of these habitats are in the third world countries where the human population is continuosly growing by leaps and bounds and more than three quarters of this population are still eking out a living.
May I also say that the destruction of the rainforests which is a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem are being burned as we speak, estimated at an alarmining rate of a hundred acres per day. With their destruction, we will lose the quality of air we breathe and the water we drink. Are we to sit idly by and presume that it never will affect us?
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Post by spookyhurst on Jul 23, 2005 19:16:27 GMT -7
Further more why breed more babies when there are so many abandoned parrots filling sanctuaries to capacity. The same can be said of humans, the world is full of unwanted children out there in foster homes and orphanages, but people still keep pumping out babies. As for abandoned parrots (and human children as well), I imagine part of the reason people want a new baby is because they don't want the baggage that an abandoned/neglected/abused bird carries with it. A bond is more easily formed with a baby, and you can raise it in a way to encourage good habits instead of bad. Personally, I would be willing to work with an adopted parrot to try to help them overcome the past, but it sure would be disappointing if I couldn't help it. I can see why some people would be reluctant to take on a bird that might cause more heartbreak that enjoyment.
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 5,912
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Post by Preston on Jul 24, 2005 5:34:38 GMT -7
I wissh I ccould find one of these sanctuaries. I'd have more birds here. I had 6 and now have 0!
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Post by lidiam on Jul 24, 2005 8:07:48 GMT -7
What do you mean you have none, Preston? You still have Pete and the others, don't you? Confused. Lidia
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Post by spookyhurst on Jul 24, 2005 15:49:59 GMT -7
Not to put words in Preston's mouth, but he said in the post about Sparky's disappearance that his ex-wife took the birds. That would have to be heartbreaking . Preston, may I suggest www.petfinder.com? You can do a search by zip code to see what birds are up for adoption in your area. Also do a search on the net for bird rescue places. I recently found one in my state that I'm thinking of either volunteering for or adopting from.
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 24, 2005 19:37:48 GMT -7
Yes, this is true, there are thousands of orphans just like the abandoned parrots except there is one difference in this comparison, the birds had no choice on the matter. And of course, some may retort that the babies had none either. This is also true but the fact of the matter is that their predicaments are linked in the decision made by their irresponsible human parents and guardians
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 24, 2005 20:07:27 GMT -7
When we took dominance of this world, we accepted the role of guardianship, not just for ourselves but for everything bounded by its gravity. When we became the higher intelligence, we also inherited the role of the decision maker and the helmsman of the mother-ship, Earth. The responsibility and liabilities fall squarely upon the shoulders of the human specie to protect and nurture everything within the realm.
Of course there is only so much each of us can do but we must try. Even the simplest action of not littering can be of help. We must educate people especially the third world nations about our relationship with nature, the enviroment and about the plights of the endangered species. This forum for instance, is a great form of doing this. Many people from different parts of the world read and learn from it.
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Post by Africanewbie on Jul 24, 2005 20:23:41 GMT -7
Something to think about.
In the past few years researchers worldwide are finding amphibians in the marshes that are born deformed...three legs, no eyes etc. etc. It has sounded off an alarm that something is vitally wrong with the ecosystem. The first indications of any drastic change in the balance of the enviroment are first seem on the creatures living in the wetlands because these areas act as filters for the waterways and absorb most of the polutants.
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