In eastern Cameroon prison terms as high as 30 months and fines up to $160,000 US have been handed down to 17 poachers caught with wildlife or wildlife parts in the last few months. The arrests included two repeat offenders believed responsible for the deaths of thousands of Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) in Lobeke National Park. Roger Atangana and Iazare Onana were given sentences of two and a half years and were ordered to pay large fines, and failing this would face an additional two years in prison.

In the last six years WPT has worked with the Last Great Ape Organization to help stop the trade in Grey parrots and with the Limbe Wildlife Centre to rehabilitate and return them to the wild.

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WPT's work with Grey Parrots »

A repeat of an article that's well worth reading again, on keeping your feathered companions safe from common but toxic household chemicals and plants.

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Genus: Neophema
Species: bourkii
World Population: Above 50,000
Range: Found in the interior of central and southern Australia in two restricted populations.
Ecology/Habitat: Occurs in drier inland areas preferring open mulga Acacia aneura and eucalyptus woodland. Also seen in riverine woodland and Callitris scrub. Is nomadic, but will also arrive and stay in an area for a few years. Up to a thousand birds seen at watering holes during dry spells. Are quiet and shy while resting in pairs or flocks in vegetation. Eats grass seeds and shoots of young plants.
Threat Summary: Has declined in C New South Wales due to overgrazing by domestic animals, but may be on the increase in the west owing to the abundance of water made possible by irrigation for agriculture.
IUCN/CITES Rating: Least concern, Appendix II

Learn more about the Bourke's Parrot »

Teachers and officials at the American School's (AST) campus in Tegucigalpa, Honduras wanted to get their students involved in raising funds for a worthy cause. They did, and how! A fundraiser was held on February 25th by the AST High School Environmental Club during Family day to support Copan Association's "Guaras En Libertad, La Belleza Regresa" project of releasing Scarlet Macaws back into the wild in the Copan Ruinas, an archeological site in Honduras. The birds are part of a project by Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve, a collaborative effort with Copan Association. The youngsters sold various items to raise the funds: Hugo Boss (a Scarlet Macaw supporter) tote bags, macaw t-shirts, and macaw shaped and Go Green! bakery items. A solid effort for macaws!

Some macaws have already been released, with three more young birds being set free at the beginning of April of this year. Some of the released birds have begun breeding in the park, a testament to the program's success. WPT has been actively supporting this project.

More from Macaw Mountain »
Asociacion Copan »
Copan Maya Foundation »

All across the planet parrot caregivers are lobbying their charges to abandon their high-calorie seed diets and begin a more balanced kibble-type regimen. WPT expert Phoebe Green Linden relates the best way to go about this with cockatiels.

Read her answer »

A big WPT-style welcome to our newest expert, from LearningParrots.com Hillary Hankey! Hillary has turned her childhood fascination for birds into her lifelong work, learning professional training from the top minds in the field. Her goal is to help companion bird owners to understand parrots and their natural behaviours, to use the power of positive reinforcement, to apply alternatives to using force in parrot handling and to build long-lasting relationships between parrots and their people. Welcome, Hillary!

More about Hillary and LearningParrots.com »

Contribution from IAATE
On February 15-18, 2012 Minnesota Zoo in Bloomington, Minnesota hosted more than 140 bird trainers from seven countries at the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) 20th year anniversary conference. During the conference IAATE handed out conservation and education grants to projects that the Board of Directors determined are sustainable and important to the ongoing welfare of avian species both in captivity and in the wild. At this year's conference the Board was pleased to award two conservation grants, two education grants and awards in all categories of behavior and enrichment. After reviewing submissions for the conservation grants the board chose to award $2500.00 to the World Parrot Trust to further its conservation efforts for endangered parrots. WPT heartily thanks IAATE for its contribution!

Promoting the WPT one Step at a Time
Madeleine Lenke, WPT supporter extraordinaire, proudly wears the World Parrot Trust logo whenever she participates in runs and marathons, both locally and internationally. This simple act of wearing the WPT logo is a great way to marry the ideas of healthy living with conservation. Madeleine is currently training for the Stockholm Marathon in Sweden on June 2, where she will be in the presence of over 20,000 runners and thousands more spectators! She would like to extend the challenge to other athletes to follow her lead in getting the word of the Trust out there. Thank you, Madeleine for your outstanding support, and we wish you the best of luck in Sweden!

Think Parrots 2012
Parrots magazine is very proud to be presenting the first Parrot Show of its kind in the UK. Along with free workshops led by some of the industry leaders, there will be trade exhibitors in the main hall offering everything for the parrot enthusiast, including food, enrichment products, cages, flights, veterinary products, toys and a whole lot more.

Workshops are free but space is limited, so be sure to reserve your seat when you pre-purchase your admittance.

Date: 20th May, 2012
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Admission: £6 in advance, £7 at the door. Buy online »
Web: http://www.thinkparrots.co.uk/

Parrot Lover's Cruise - Western Caribbean
Welcome to the 4th Annual Parrot Lover's Cruise, one of the most spectacular cruises for parrot enthusiasts. Leave your worries behind and relax as you join us to discover some of the bluest waters and best sightseeing in the world. Educate yourself with onboard parrot seminars and visit exotic ports of call where you may get a chance to see wild parrots!

Book early, seating is limited!

Date: Oct. 28 - Nov. 4, 2012
Contact: Carol Cipriano
Email: carolstraveltime@gmail.com
Phone: +1 (570) 226.2569 or +1 (570) 470.0034
Web: http://www.parrotloverscruise.com

For more event listings, visit the WPT website at:
http://www.parrots.org/index.php/parrotnews/Events/