Officials push new ban as thousands of households keep beloved creatures as pets: ‘They will understand eventually’
In a major victory for wildlife conservation and local communities, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has finally taken sweeping action to protect African gray parrots from a decade of unsustainable trade. mongabay.
The new nationwide ban, signed by the country’s environment minister in late July, prohibits the capture, sale, transport and export of these beloved birds except in special cases such as research.
The move follows years of mounting evidence that the country’s live parrot population has been decimated by the pet trade. Although African gray parrots are granted the highest level of international protection CITES In 2016, the DRC resisted sanctions and large-scale entrapments continued. Experts estimate that as many as 68,000 parrots were transported from smuggling hubs such as Kisangani between 2017 and 2022, and tens of thousands more died in transit.
By officially banning the trade, the DRC is not only helping to protect one of Africa’s most iconic species, but also protecting the livelihoods of communities that rely on healthy forests. Cutting demand for trafficked parrots helps prevent deforestation and reduces opportunities for corruption and illegal trade networks; just as recent bans on ivory sales and shark fins in other countries have slowed the exploitation of wildlife.
In addition to protecting the parrots themselves, environmentalists say the ban could have far-reaching environmental benefits. African gray parrots play a critical role in their ecosystems by dispersing seeds across vast areas of forest, helping to maintain the health and diversity of the Congo Basin rainforests.
Protecting their populations means preserving forests, which store large amounts of carbon, regulate rainfall, and support countless other species. Experts say stronger protection measures for birds could also strengthen anti-trafficking measures for other endangered wildlife, creating a positive impact across the region.
Yet challenges remain.
Conservation groups warn enforcement will be key, and some rural hunters worry about lost income. Activists have proposed solutions such as community-based ecotourism, parrot rehabilitation centers and small grants for alternative livelihoods to support those most affected.
Local advocates are hopeful that awareness is growing.
“We are facing difficulties in cooperating with some government departments that do not understand the extent of the problem,” said Gentil Kisangani, provincial director of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s protection authority. “We are still raising awareness and eventually they will understand.”
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