Mexico and U.S. repatriate 26 parrots seized in illegal trafficking

Mexico and the United States have successfully repatriated 26 parrots that were victims of international illegal trafficking. The group includes five yellow-headed parrots and 21 white-crowned parrots, species that are considered at risk by Mexican environmental authorities and international agreements.

The recovery originated on September 17, when the Texas Border Patrol seized a shipment of birds attempting to cross the Reynosa-Anzaldúas international bridge in a private vehicle without legal documentation. Following the seizure, the birds were placed under the custody of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for initial veterinary care.

The repatriation process was a bilateral effort involving Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), and the U.S. Embassy. The birds were formally delivered in Matamoros and subsequently transferred to the Ecopark Matamoros Wildlife Conservation Management Unit, where they entered a 45-day sanitary quarantine to screen for diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

The yellow-headed parrot is listed as endangered under Mexican law and is included in Appendix I of CITES, providing it with maximum international protection. The white-crowned parrot is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Under Mexican law, the illegal trafficking of wildlife is a federal crime punishable by prison sentences and fines.