70 



an important opportunity for this species to recuperate from the excessive numbers that were 

 taken for export to the United States year after year. 



Through the implementation of the WBCA, the United States is communicating to developing 

 nations that we will no longer tolerate the continuation of American activities that hinder their 

 efforts to protect indigenous bird species firom the devastating effects of international trade. 

 Prior to this Act, our involvement in the 'legal" wild bird trade was promoting massive 

 illegalities in range countries. Now, trade in wild birds will only be permitted when there is 

 sufficient proof that it will not be detrimental to wild populations, will not incur significant 

 mortalities and will be in complete compliance with the legal requirements of range and 

 exporting nations. The responsibility and cost of demonstrating that the trade is not 

 destructive will be placed on those profiting from the trade. 



The WBCA has indirectly resulted in improvements, internationally, of controls on the trade in 

 exotic wild birds. Promotion of the issue resulted in more than one hundred and twenty 

 international airlines adopting bans on the carriage of wild birds for the commercial pet trade. 

 Guyana banned all wild bird exports in 1993, as a result of publicity associated with exports to 

 America. In addition, the United States' advancement of a legislative solution to problems 

 associated with the commercial trade, contributed to adoption of a CITES resolution entitled 

 Significant Trade in Animal Species on CITES Appendix II. This resolution seeks to ensure 

 trade in these species occurs at sustainable levels, as required by the treaty, and allows CITES 

 to set restrictions on trade and/or require population monitoring. 



By restricting imports, the WBCA has successfully shifted the United States' reliance on 

 imported wild birds for pets to birds that are bred-in-captivity. Prior to the Act, the 

 widespread availability of cheap wild-caught birds fueled the continued exploitation of wild 

 populations. Though captive-breeding could easily fulfill the demand for pet birds, the 

 economic incentives for captive breeding simply did not exist. It is much cheaper to import 

 wild birds than to produce them through captive breeding. As long as wild imports continued, 

 aviculturists would be at a competitive disadvantage. Similarly, pet stores that endeavored to 

 sell only captive-bred birds often had a difficult time competing with the stores that retailed 

 cheaper wild birds. 



By forcing the domestic bird market to sfiift its emphasis to captive-bred birds, the WBCA is 

 not only helping to conserve birds in the wild, but it is also providing American consumers with 

 healthy, captive-bred birds, which make more appropriate pets than wild-caught birds. Exotic 

 birds bred-in-captivity, unlike wild birds, are accustomed to life in captivity and therefore make 

 more suitable companion animals. In addition, they are generally healthier, long-lived pets 

 (Some parrots can live for over fifty years.). The sfiift to birds bred-in-captivity also is 

 advantageous from a disease standpoint. Diseases carried by wild birds, such as Newcastle's 

 and psittacosis, can threaten human healtli, poultiy, and native bird species. 



In conclusion, the WBCA has made the United States a leader woridwide in efforts to 

 conserve wild exotic bird species. No longer do we have the shameful distinction of being the 

 largest consumer of the world's most tfireatened birds for pets. 



