Two illegal exotic birds, a protected macaw and an invasive parrot, were rescued from the garage of a property in Santa Pola.
According to the Guardia Civil, the birds are a blue-and-yellow macaw and a Kramer’s parakeet. They were temporarily immobilised because their owner lacked the necessary documentation for legal ownership, such as certificates of origin or import, as well as documentation proving their legal acquisition.
The Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) has sent proposed sanctions to the Valencian Community’s Ministry of Environment, Water, Infrastructure, and Territory, as well as the Customs and Special Taxes Delegation of Alicante, for possible administrative violations of smuggling, wildlife protection, and animal welfare regulations, which could result in sanctions ranging from 3,000 to more than 100,000 euros, depending on the applicable legislation.
Both species are listed under the CITES Convention on Conservation, which imposes a number of legal conditions for their possession. Furthermore, the Red-faced Parakeet is included in the Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Exotic Species, limiting its availability owing to the threat it causes to native biodiversity.
The Guardia Civil seized the opportunity to remind everyone that the possession and trade of protected species are governed by national and international legislation and that failing to comply jeopardises both biodiversity and the animals’ well-being. It also invited the public to report any information on illicit wildlife trafficking by calling 062 or using the AlertCops mobile app.
Author: Derek Appleton
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