A new report from World Animal Protection (WAP) details the destructive and cruel exotic pet trade, revealing that this multibillion-dollar industry continues to flourish. The suffering and transport of animals is enabled by irresponsible airlines like Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo, who are woefully failing to meet their stated commitments to fighting wildlife trafficking.
As part of their “Wildlife. Not Pets” campaign, WAP’s 12-month-long investigation focused on the illegal trade of African grey parrots, one of the most heavily trafficked bird species in the world in spite of its highly protected status.
They found that these birds are still highly sought after and that poachers have been using Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo to illegally transport wild-caught parrots out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Mali, destined for countries in the Middle East and Asia.
The airline has poor cargo checking procedures and fails to train staff adequately, making it easy for poachers to transport animals.
“Poaching animals for the exotic pet trade is happening on an industrial scale with devastating consequences,” says Ben Williamson from WAP US. “Worse still is that the illegal and illicit elements of the trade are often aided by government corruption and inadequate enforcement.”
In August 2018, a shipment of African greys was transported by the airline from Kinshasa to Kuwait; more than 60 of the birds were dead before they even arrived.
It is estimated that two to three million African grey parrots have been taken from the wild for the exotic pet trade in the last 40 years, resulting in a population decrease of almost 79 percent during that period.
To catch them, poachers lure the parrots with other birds used as bait. The wild birds land on a branch laden with sticky gum and are unable to fly away.
Very few birds survive capture and transport; WAP suggests that 30 to 60 percent – possibly 70 to 90 in some situations – die before they are even exported. Even more perish during transportation, crammed into crates on long journeys.
Whether taken from the wild or bred in captivity, life as a pet is one full of suffering for an exotic animal. Deprived of their natural social groupings, and unable to grow, learn and fly, African greys develop severe mental and physical issues as a result of inadequate diets, boredom, and mental suffering.
“Animals suffer at every step of their journey to people’s homes: from capture to handling, transport, holding, breeding, sale and the lifetime of captivity in the home,” said Williamson.
WAP are urging Turkish Airlines and Cargo to stop flying all birds on their flights until they can be confident that African grey parrots and any other protected species aren’t being flown illegally.
“Most people buy exotic pets because they love animals – but any wild animal in the exotic pet trade experiences extreme suffering,” said Alesia Soltanpanah, executive director at WAP US. “We are urging people to not buy, own or breed a wild animal as a pet. A life in captivity is a world away from a life in the wild. Wild animals are not pets, they belong in the wild.”
Masakra
PUT PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE IN JAIL
It is so upsetting to read of the level of cruelty that is dished out to animals unnecessarily from humans. They are so vulnerable they should be cared and respected.
Stop your selfish trade that has no regard for the lifetime of mental and physical torture of these innocent birds!
Please stop transporting wild birds it isn’t good for them and is obviously very stressful
Yes, this cruelty needs to STOP!
Ban this cruel torture!!! This is new york city?? Oh my god. I am really shocked!!!
Stop This Please. Bring the animals and birds back home and free them.
The country the birds are caught are just as guilty for taking bribes at the airport. Sack those and jail the poachers
You used to be my favorite airline in and out of Istanbul. I will now boycott you and so will my friends and family for your cruel transports.
Thank you.
The time has come to BOYCOTT THE TURKISH AIRLINES & TURKISH CARGO. These evil Greedy Turkish people must be brought to justice. Impose the harsh penalties & hefty fines over these thugs. Such international criminal organizations must be seriously investigate & taken them to courts.
IF THE TURKISH PEOPLE ARE BEING TORTURED OR ABUSED BY THE OTHER NATIONALITIES , MAKE SURE “NEVER” TO HELP THEM IN THE FUTURE…This message must be spread across & around the world.
AFRICAN GREYS have the intelligence of a 3-4 year old. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF TURKEY WERE KIDNAPPING, TRANSPORTING, AND TORTURING TODDLERS LIKE THIS? AND WHY IS IT ANY DIFFERENT WHEN IT’S AFRICAN GREYS????? TO THOSE WHO ARE SICK OF SENDING ENDLESS PETITIIONS, EVERYONE START FORWARDING THIS HORRIFIC ACCOUNTS OF ANIMAL TORTURE TO ALL OF YOUR STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATORS AND OFFICIALS!!!!
Wild animals are not pets, they belong in the wild.
All animal abusers must be fed to lions or crocs. Stop it once and for all.
The traffickers are imbeciles but the government officials are indifferent, greedy and corrupted, making them the true killer of wildlife.
Stop stop all animal export and abuse please. Laws world wide needed to feed all abusers to lions, crocs or sharks. Let the animals sort out all animal abusers. That WILL put an end to all animal abuse once and for all.
So cruel. Put these Turkish airlines out of business now.
OMG — THIS IS HORRIBLE — what depraved cruelty inflicted on these magnificent birds — SHUT DOWN THE CRIMINAL-IDIOT-MONSTERS who engage in this unconscionable, sadistic trade — LEAVE THE BIRDS ALONE — LET THEM REMAIN IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS !
Immoral and criminal!!!!
Stop this unmitigated cruelty
I ask that Turkish Airlines end this horrendous practice. Until you stop aiding in this ugliness, I will suggest to all I know that no one use Turkish Airlines for our personal travel & not for our business travel.
Capturing and transporting wild birds is cruel and irresponsible and should be shut down. Airlines must be vigilant in monitoring this practice. Governments should never be complicit in the abuse of wild creatures.
Inadmissible!
The money is the only consideration here!
We must get it in our heads that we can not trust anyone who can do something like poaching, or any abuse. EVER!
We can never stop watching, signing and sharing. We here, and on other excellent sites, are animals’ only voices.
Not surprised at the Turks.
Hi Leanne I totally agree with you maybe just maybe that will stop them.
Take care Coreen
Boycott all Turkish airlines. Put all poachers to death.
BEST IDEA SO FAR. GET THE POACHERS OFF THIS PLANET.
Boycott Turkish airlines. And stop buying grey parrots
Wild animals should remain in the wild! Incredibly cruel that they be kept in captivity
Anyone who buys an exotic animal to keep as a pet is definitely no animal lover. Wild animals should be left to live their lives where they belong – in the wild. If you want a pet get a dog or a cat!
Thank you for alerting me to the trade in wild animals such as the African grey parrot. This needs to be stopped and people need to be educated against this especially the traders!
Thank you for alerting me to the illegal trade in wild animals such as African grey parrot s. Please continue the good work you are doing!
This MUST be stopped immediately !
I cannot understand why Turkish Airlines and Cargo would participate in this. Doubtless the Turkish Tourist Board will have a view.
We may hack into Turkish airlines again.
They hate that as it messes with their reservation system.
We hacked once as we were paid to via a client.
This is good enough reason to do it again, only we will be more electronically destructive this time, haha🤡
Good ,well done
Good for you.
Please be safe.
Please do. They deserve it. Remember what they did to Armenians 100 years ago and never paid for their crime. Now a helpless voiceless birds. These so-called people are real cancer. May our dear Creator richly bless you for your heroism! May the Almighty erase Turkey from the face of the Earth!
Entrapment, trauma, torture and termination: what a terrible tale of misery for these extraordinary parrots, known for their sociability and intelligence. In order to show their desire to be good corporate citizens, Turkish Airlines must take a stand to cease aiding this terrible trade and ensure that rules are not breached. Greed is a short-lived, selfish outcome.