Three parrot chicks that were being smuggled into the U.S. were rescued and have a new home at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens.
The yellow-crowned Amazon parrots were 10 weeks old when they were confiscated and placed at the zoo by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, zoo officials said Monday.
“We feel that these chicks are among the lucky ones,” said Tanya M. Peterson, CEO and executive director of the San Francisco Zoological Sociey.
“Not all trafficked animals will be able to live a quality life, and we hope these three can serve as ambassadors in our South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary to tell the story of illicit wildlife trafficking and its negative consequences on wild populations.”
The yellow-crowned Amazon parrot, or Amazona ochrocephala, has a life expectancy of 60 to 80 years and is native to South America, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, according to zoo officials.
They are highly intelligent, with the ability to mimic what people say. The birds are mostly green, have a crown that is deep yellow, with red or orange feathers under the wing and a white ring around the eyes.
Smuggling has depleted wild parrot populations, with most species considered threatened or endangered, zoo officials said.
Parrot chicks taken from their nests as hatchlings are often shipped in boxes without proper ventilation or water for the illegal pet trade.
“When these chicks were confiscated, U.S. Fish and Wildlife sought out zoos with expertise in hand-rearing parrot species to assist and provide a home for this young trio,” Peterson said. “Thankfully, we have both the expertise and a home for them.”
The zoo’s veterinary staff gave the chicks a check-up and found them to be healthy. Now 12 weeks old, they are still being hand-fed by animal care staff, and starting to eat food on their own.
“Already, the chicks are playful and curious,” said Dominick Dorsa, vice president of animal care at the zoo.
“While this species is sexually dimorphic at maturity, a blood test has confirmed that two of these birds are male and the other female,” Dorsa said.
Guests to the zoo will not be able to see the chicks until they have matured, officials said.
Smart and Beautiful? That’s a win… Pretty Green…:)
Speaking of parrots, does anyone remember the “wild parrots of Concord”? They used to be seen around the downtown area, especially flocking around the various palm trees in the area. Living out in Clayton Valley area, I never got around to seeing the parrots, but this article stirred the memory.
I remember seeing two macaws flying around Concord in the mid to late 80’s. They were blue and red with a touch of yellow and green. I thought they were a couple of escaped pets.
I remember the wild parrots of Redwood City (in the 80’s). There were about 20+ of them…and they flocked comfortably in the fruit trees everyone had at the time.
I grew up in the city of Orange in Orange county. We would see them daily. Noisy critters but beautiful and very large.
Please don’t tell me that these innocent migrants from south of the border are beimg kept in cages!
This is a happy ending and a new beginning for these beautiful and intelligent birds They are the lucky ones. The illegal smuggling on the other hand, I don’t even know where to begin. So much indifference and negligence.
They’re not illegal birds.
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They’re just undocumented birds.
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They should be returned to their native habitat, right?
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Exit 12A, I understand your concern. My concern is with the birds being allowed to grow up in ultra-progressive S.F. felling content with the sexual identity that they were born with…. Or will a “well-meaning” (of course) caregiver attempt to teach Charlie that he may, in fact, be happier if he admits that he’s really a Charlene at heart. 🙂
These chicks are not the lucky ones, they will be caged for the rest of their lives (60 to 80 years) for the sole purpose of amusing humans. Wild animals, especially intelligent animals, belong in the wild, not in a zoo. Return them to South America, where nature intended them to live.
+1
Our friends in San Francisco live next door to some fruit trees that are covered with parrots when the fruit is out. Great sight!
More illegal immigrants. So where’s Becton doing her job? Send these colored birds back to where they come from. ‘Merica!!!
Just be happy they have a good home now. They will have room and they will eat good for years and years.
THREE CHICKS!!!??? REALLY? WOW!
Two…..maybe, but no way could I handle three. And only on a good day.
Whew……I need a nap just thinking about that.
I rescued an Amazon Parrot. She has been with me for 10 years now. She sings, talks and dances. The police have been to our home twice to investigate, due to questionable choices of her words. She can mimic a porn star and a victim of a violent attack. She brought these skills with her.
Trafficking of animals and humans is an awful thing. Glad these cuties was rescued.