A better future for trafficked parrots is possible!
Even adult birds who have spent years in captivity can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

Join us to learn how this has already been done in Belize, and how we can translate these lessons to parrot care and rehabilitation in Trinidad and Tobago. In this webinar, Nikki Buxton, the founder and director of The Belize Bird Rescue, will discuss their innovations and success in rehabilitating captive parrots, and how we might apply them here, in T&T.

What is the future for traded pet parrots? This question looms large in the minds of parrot keepers and rescuers in T&T and elsewhere. After surviving the trauma of the wildlife trade, which removes them from their parrot families and the skills they need for life in the wild, many parrots are thought to be unsuitable for release. Life in captivity often ends tragically for these parrots, since many keepers are unprepared or unwilling to meet the needs of these smart, complex and highly social birds. Even highly skilled keepers may come to regret their role in the trade when they understand the extreme suffering inflicted on so many of these amazing animals.

The Belize Bird Rescue has been a beacon of hope to parrots and their rescuers. Their mission is to encourage empathy for and awareness of the importance of the preservation of indigenous bird-life by means of education, conservation, enforcement and rehabilitation. This multi-species avian rescue centre has released over 700 parrots since 2014, including more than 150 critically endangered Yellow-headed Parrots which are now breeding in the wild. Thanks to their tireless work, attitudes, behaviours and policies around captive parrots and birds are changing.

This Webinar was originally broadcast on March 2 2022 at 6:00pm (GMT -4) on Zoom and FB Live.