Yucatán Peninsula identified as strategic hub for illegal parrot trafficking

An international study led by the Australian National University and Arizona State University has identified high-risk corridors for the illegal trafficking of parrots in Mexico. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed over 6,000 seizure records from 1997 to 2024 to map the movement of wildlife.

The findings highlight the Yucatán Peninsula and the southeast of Mexico as strategic nodes for the collection, transit, and redistribution of birds to urban and international markets. Key high-risk routes include highways connecting Campeche, Mérida, Villahermosa, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The study notes that wildlife trade has evolved from opportunistic rural captures into organized supply chains.

Recent enforcement actions corroborate these findings. In May 2025, authorities intercepted a vehicle on the Campeche–Mérida highway containing 25 parrots and a spider monkey. The birds included species from the Amazona genus, such as white-fronted and yellow-cheeked parrots. Half of Mexico's native parrot species are currently under direct threat due to these activities.