Customs officers seize 18 rare parrots - A report in the Prague Daily Monitor

Czech News Agency

15 June 2010

Brno, June 14 (CTK) - Czech customs officers seized 18 very rare parrots, including three priceless indigo macaws from Brazil, in south Moravia and east Bohemia in the past days, South Moravian Customs Authority spokeswoman Lada Temnakova told CTK Monday.

Several persons are suspected of illegal trading in exotic birds in the case, Temnakova said, but she refused to elaborate as the investigation is underway.

Customs officers first uncovered five rare parrots of Palm Cockatoo species during a road check on the D2 motorway near Breclav, south Moravia, in May.

They thereby traced a group trading in rare parrots in EU countries.

Other smuggled exotic birds were found during home searches.

Three indigo macaws were found in a Skoda Octavia car. They were transported with forged documents though their export and sale are subject to strict rules.

Parrots of eight species worth from hundreds of thousands to millions of crowns were seized during the customs checks. The value of the indigo macaws is priceless, according to experts.

The Indigo Macaw previously known as the Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) ranks among the most endangered species in the world. Only some 700 of these parrots live in the wild in northeast Brazil.

Customs officers cooperate with the police and the Czech Environmental Inspection in the investigation into the case of parrot smuggling.

End of report