The following photographs depict the legal capture and trade of parrots.

Both images were taken in Argentina in 2005 (©2005 WorldParrotTrust.org)

Click on the picture to download a high resolution version of each:

These Blue-fronted Amazons (Amazona aestiva) were harvested in 2005

primarily for the EU market.

During transport, cramped quarters and extreme stress encourage the outbreak and

spread of infectious diseases such as avian influenza and exotic Newcastle disease.

Close relatives of these birds, Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica),

were recently imported to the UK and one or more of the birds died from H5N1 avian influenza.

Patagonian Conures (Cyanoliseus patagonus) recently trapped in Argentina,

packed in cramped cages, and ready to be sent to the European Union.

These highly unnatural social environments cause undue stress, frequent mortality,

and encourage outbreaks of infectious disease.