Uganda detains Congolese ‘smuggler’ of 122 rare parrots |

The Ugandan authorities say they have detained a Congolese national found transporting 122 African grey parrots in the western district of Kisoro.

The suspect was arrested with the birds crammed into two cages during a joint operation by the police, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the army.

UWA spokesman Bashir Hangi said they acted following a tip-off that parrots were being smuggled from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Uganda.

African grey parrot

The African grey parrot’s ability to talk and mimic sounds makes this medium-sized parrot a captivating companion. African grey owners often report that their greys oftentimes talk in context and seem very attuned to their people’s emotions. The African grey parrot is not just a top talker — this bird is also known for its extreme intelligence, which gives them the moniker “The Einsteins of the Bird World.”
The African grey parrot is one of the most talented talking/ mimicking birds on the planet, giving it quite a reputation among bird enthusiasts. Not only do bird keepers love this intelligent bird, it’s one of the most recognizable species to bird novices as well — everyone knows the African grey parrot. This parrot is one of the oldest psitticine species kept by humans, with records of the bird dating back to biblical times. Understated beauty and a brainy no-nonsense attitude are what keep this parrot at the peak of popularity.
At first glance, the African grey is a medium-sized, dusty-looking gray bird, almost pigeon-like — but further investigation reveals a bright red tail, intelligent orange eyes, and a stunning scalloped pattern to its plumage.

Native Region / Natural Habitat

African grey parrots generally inhabit savannas, coastal mangroves, woodland and edges of forest clearings in their West and Central Africa range. Though the larger of the African grey subspecies is referred to as the Congo African grey, this bird actually has a much wider natural range in Africa, including the southeastern Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Tanzania. The Timneh African grey is found in a smaller region along the western edge of the Ivory Coast and through southern Guinea. Their diet in the wild consists mostly of palm nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy matter.

Three parrots had died when the man was arrested in Kibaya village near the border town of Bunagana.

The suspect is now being held at the Central Police Station in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The parrots have been taken to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre.

African grey parrots, native to rainforests in central Africa, are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Loss of habitat and large nesting trees have had a significant impact on their numbers.

They are one of the most heavily traded wild birds because of their ability to mimic human speech.

Care and Feeding

There’s a reason why the African grey is often considered the poster bird for parrot intelligence — not only is this bird inclined to amass a large vocabulary, African greys also demonstrate an aptitude for recognizing the meaning of words and phrases.
African greys need plenty of toys that challenge their intelligence, such as foraging and puzzle toys. Pellets are the ideal food and should ideally represent approximately 75-80% of the bird’s diet. The remainder of the diet should be comprised of fresh fruits and vegetables with very limited seed, if any. This complete food blends a balance of grains, seeds, and other nutrients in the shape of a berry. Because the grains and seeds are mostly whole and formed into a berry shape, it encourages African greys to hold, nibble, and even play with the Nutri-Berries. This mimics the foraging that African greys do in the wild.
African greys seem especially affected by stress and commotion in their environment and can be put more at ease by placing one corner of the cage against a wall as opposed to in the middle of a room.
African grey parrots are more prone to deficiency in vitamin-A/beta-carotene, and therefore benefit from eating vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as cooked sweet potato and fresh kale. Vitamin-D deficiency is another concern, especially for greys on a poor diet. Offering a balanced, pelleted diet, such as Nutri-Berries, for the main diet of an African grey helps prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies. A grey that consumes a pelleted diet generally does not need vitamin supplements added to its food.

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