Exotic parrots' smuggling may lead to extinction of colourful cage birds

It is feared that increasing smuggling of exotic parrots to Iran would cause extinction of the colorful cage birds from the country, local traders dealing in these birds told Business Recorder.
The legal and illicit trade of the Australian budgerigar, European goldfinch, Lutino cockatiel and Fischer's lovebird has increased in a year's span. Karachi is the largest breeding centre of these birds in the country.
The 30-year reproduction of the exotic Australian parrot budgerigar, also known as grass parakeet, is said to have almost flown abroad also because of their huge export to Turkey, Bahrain, Muscat and Malaysia.
The birds and animal market at the Empress Market was witnessed partially inhabited cages with these birds, while buyers were also uninterested in them for their high price.
A retailer said that price of the Australian budgerigar per pair has posted exactly 750 percent increase in the last nine months, which distracted the amateur buyers who used to just buy them for recreational purposes as household pets.
"Now these birds are not easily available on the local markets of Karachi, as their almost huge crop has vanished. The shortage is causing its price hike," he said.
The Australian budgerigar was available for Rs 150 per pair just nine months ago while its price has shot up to Rs 900, because of smuggling and export. The same pair is available for Rs 1500 in Quetta because of huge demand in the wake of its smuggling to Iran where cost of a single pair is Rs 3000, he added.
Budgerigars live in dry regions of Australia and fly in enormous flocks. They feed on plant seeds that grow after rainstorms. Budgerigars are bred in captivity and often mimic human speech.
The retailer said that smuggling of European goldfinch, which is also locally bred in captivity, is witnessing a price increase to Rs 600 a pair up from Rs 180 within a year span.
The tiny bird is originally found in Africa, Asia and Australia. However, it is now widely found in other parts of the world. The beautiful bird has nine species, but the mostly Zebra finch is cage bird amongst all.
The price of Lutino cockatiel [exotic Australian parrot] has reached Rs 2200 a pair from Rs 1200 with a 100 percent surge. Lutino cockatiel is mostly white or yellow, with dark red eyes. It is the one of the genetic mutation of the Australian cockatiel parrot. It is also a pet bird.
The price of the Fischer's lovebird [small colourful parrot] has hit the maximum increase among all of bird prices to Rs 1800 per pair from just Rs 500.
Lovebirds are primarily found in Africa and Madagascar and are commonly kept as cage birds. They are now also available in other parts of the world. Lovebirds are small colourful members of the parrot family, getting name from their characteristic head-to-head sitting position.
The price of ring-necked green parrot has surged to Rs 300 a pair, which was previously available for Rs 80 to 100. The green parrot is transported in cages from the interior parts of Sindh to Karachi's market, the retailer said.
He said that the price of locally known young parrot of "mountainous origin" has reached Rs 4,000 per pair, which was previously available for Rs 2200. Their smuggling across the border from Quetta has also increased in a short time.
He said that breeding of exotic birds in the country is declining. According to him, as many as 35000 budgerigars are exported a week. He recalled that an amateur buyer would buy about 10 to 15 pairs in a single visit but now hardly a single pair of any of these birds is sold for a whole day.
The exporters and illicit traders of these birds have several agents in Karachi's local market to allure the breeders of the exotic parrots with high prices. But, soon, breeders will realise that these "diamond pearls" have just slipped out of their hands, he observed.