Guacamayo de frente (Ara rubrogenys) encontrado como mascota durante los muestreos en Bolivia. Foto: José Luis Tella 

An international scientific team, led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) in Seville, has developed an innovative methodology to quantify the impact of illegal parrot capture in Bolivia. The results, published in Biological Conservation, reveal that local demand for parrots as pets far exceeds both domestic and international trade. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 parrots are captured each year in Bolivia for the pet trade.

This study combined multi-year monitoring of the country’s main wildlife market, located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, with surveys conducted both in the city and in rural areas where parrots are captured for sale. This methodology allowed researchers to estimate that only a small percentage of captured parrots actually reach the market: just 11.75% are transported to urban markets for sale, while the remaining 88.25% are kept as pets in their places of origin.

‘This demonstrates that illegal capture to meet local demand for pets represents a much larger volume than all historical domestic and international trade combined,’ explains Pedro Romero-Vidal, a researcher at the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and lead author of the study.

A Deeply Rooted Tradition with Severe Ecological Consequences

In Bolivia, keeping parrots as pets is a long-standing cultural tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. However, the conditions in which these wild-caught pets are kept are often extremely poor, leading to high mortality rates. The research team observed that most pet parrots were under two years old, as they frequently died prematurely due to disease, predation by other animals (mainly domestic pets), or problems related to inadequate nutrition.

‘This high mortality rate fuels a constant demand, placing unsustainable capture pressure on wild populations’, adds Romero-Vidal. 

The study’s findings also highlight the critical situation of some endangered species, such as the red-fronted macaw (Ara rubrogenys), whose wild population is estimated to be between only 800 and 1,200 individuals. During the research, 113 red-fronted macaws were recorded as pets in rural areas—approximately 10% of the species' global population.

Additionally, the study underscores the need to reassess the conservation status of other parrot species that, while not currently classified as threatened, may be declining due to illegal capture. For instance, the blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva), one of the most frequently captured species in Bolivia, is experiencing a global population decline. 

A methodology applicable to other countries 

The methodology developed by this scientific team not only provides the first nationwide estimate of illegally captured parrots, but it can also be applied in other Neotropical countries and regions where the illegal wildlife trade poses a significant threat to biodiversity.

"Our goal is to provide an initial picture of the scale of illegal parrot capture and other wildlife trade, which extends far beyond animal markets. To achieve this, we offer a new methodology that allows for a more realistic assessment of the impact of this activity on species conservation," explains Pedro Romero-Vidal. "To design effective conservation actions, it is crucial to understand the scale and dynamics of this activity at the local level as well."

What can be done to mitigate this problem?

The researchers stress the need to implement comprehensive strategies that address both the supply and demand for pet parrots. These include education and awareness campaigns, improving conditions for captive parrots to reduce demand, and strengthening laws and enforcement to combat illegal capture and trade.

"Parrot conservation is not only crucial for these species but also for maintaining the ecological balance of Neotropical ecosystems, where they play vital ecological roles," concludes the researcher.

Reference

Pedro Romero-Vidal, Abraham Rojas, Mauricio Herrera, Fernando Hiraldo, José A. Díaz, Guillermo Blanco, Martina Carrete, José L. Tella. The hidden dimension of poaching: A novel survey method shows that local demand for pets largely outnumbers domestic and international trade of neotropical parrots. Biological Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111029