US authorities return 11 Mexican parrots seized at border

Eleven white-fronted parrots seized astatine the U.S.-Mexico borderline past week person been returned to Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

The enactment spotlights the ongoing cross-border efforts to curb wildlife trafficking, specified arsenic erstwhile a antheral was caught precocious trying to smuggle 2 parakeets into the United States successful his pants.

White-fronted parrots, besides known arsenic white-fronted amazons, specified arsenic those shown here, are highly protected successful Mexico, arsenic are each members of the parrot and parakeet families. (Profepa)

In the latest incident, Profepa said it received the 11 pericos (small parrots) aft the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seized the birds astatine inspection and arrested a U.S. national connected Feb. 10.

The antheral allegedly tried to thrust the birds into the U.S. successful a backstage conveyance utilizing the Córdova–Las Américas International Bridge, besides known arsenic the Bridge of the Americas, adjacent Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

U.S. authorities initially said the parrots presumably came from Ciudad Juárez, though the probe was ongoing.

Profepa said a aesculapian valuation determined the birds are chicks astir 2 to 6 weeks old. Five person respiratory and digestive problems and were placed nether veterinary care. Officials said the parrots’ last destination volition beryllium decided successful enactment with wildlife laws erstwhile they recover.

The white-fronted parrot (Amazona albifrons) is simply a tiny Central American parrot with a agleam achromatic forehead patch, reddish astir the eyes and mostly greenish plumage. 

It is considered of “least concern” globally portion inactive facing unit from situation nonaccomplishment and the favored trade.

Its intimately related cousin, the red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) of Mexico, is listed arsenic “endangered” globally, with terrible situation nonaccomplishment and historic dense capture for the favored trade.

Protections successful Mexico spell further for parrots and related birds, specified arsenic macaws, cockatoos, amazons and lovebirds. The General Wildlife Law states that “no vertebrate specimen corresponding to the Psittacidae household oregon psittacid [parrots and parakeets], whose earthy organisation is wrong the nationalist territory, whitethorn beryllium taxable to extractive exploitation for subsistence oregon commercialized purposes.” 

It besides bans the import, export and reexport of specified birds but for conservation oregon technological research.

Profepa, headed by Mariana Boy Tamborrell, said it volition proceed coordinating with U.S. agencies to combat illegal trafficking of protected species and trim harm to biodiversity.

With reports from El Universal, 88.9 Noticias, Infobae, Mexico Business News and La Jornada