Department wildlife officers seize illegal exotic birds: Minister

8/8/01 Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards today said that thirty-four prohibited exotic birds with an estimated value in excess of $32,000 were seized by Department of Conservation and Land Management wildlife officers during 'Operation Global' last weekend.
Department wildlife officers inspected over 60 licensed exotic and native bird keepers in the Perth metropolitan area under the operation, which is part of a program to protect native wildlife and the natural environment in Western Australia.
Dr Edwards said that while officers found that most of the bird keepers were acting responsibly and complying with the regulations, offences were detected at three addresses.
"A number of charges are expected to be laid under the Wildlife Conservation Act and Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act for the illegal importation and keeping of these birds," she said.
"Penalties of up to $5,000 for each offence apply to keeping prohibited species."
Dr Edwards said the prohibited exotic birds seized included dusky lories, red lories, black capped lories, nanday conures, green cheeked conures, quaker parrots, bobwhite quail and an oriental greenfinch.
She said the fate of the birds was currently under consideration and the options included placement at the Perth Zoo or exporting the birds to an appropriate facility in the eastern states.
"Introduced species represent a serious threat to nature conservation and agriculture if they escape or are deliberately released and become established in the wild," Dr Edwards said.
"They may compete with native species for food or nesting hollows, or damage orchards and other crops.
"There are numerous records of introduced bird species becoming established and causing serious problems both in Australia and around the world.
"Starlings and sparrows are major pests in Eastern Australia and Quaker Parrots are a major pest species in the USA."
Very few exotic birds have established in WA as result of strict rules. Species proposed for import must first be assessed by the Committee for the Import and Keeping of Animals (CIKA), which is comprised of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, WA Quarantine and Inspection Service and Department of Agriculture.
A full list of the prohibited birds can be found on the Department of Agriculture website http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/programs/app/dec_an/
Any information regarding the keeping or importing of prohibited species can be reported to the Department of Conservation and Land Management Wildlife Officer in your local area.
"Any person who is in possession of prohibited birds is urged to contact the Department and arrange to surrender them," Dr Edwards said.
Media contacts:
Minister's Office - John Carey on 9220 5050
Wildlife Officer Rick Dawson 93340542

Exotic Birds seized under Operation Global include: