Once considered acceptable, wildlife capture, captivity, breeding and their associated laws and regulations are under ethical scrutiny. Reviewing and analyzing an extensive amount of scientific data, this 58-page paper focuses on the effects of capture and captivity on both wild and hand-reared parrots. Based on the evidence of how keeping “pet” birds harms both the individuals and species involved, the authors conclude that the pet trade conflicts with ethical and conservation goals, and that current laws and policies should reflect a more enlightened approach to parrot welfare.
Click to order this Policy Paper in print or electronic (pdf) format. All of our Policy Papers are now Open Access and can be downloaded for free from the Animals & Society Institute Digital Archive.