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There is currently no marking technique which, when used alone, can guarantee the legitimacy 

 of an exotic bird. Closed, seamless bands can be useful in identifying whether a bird was 

 hatched in captivity, particularly at the state level, but if federal requirements for imported 

 captive-bred birds were limited to banding, it would merely encourage exporting countries to 

 band young, wild birds in commercial quantities for easy access to the United States market. 



To disguise the illegal origin of birds smuggled into the United States from Mexico, seamless 

 leg bands are sometimes placed on young wild birds.'' Bird dealers in Africa are already in 

 possession of closed bands to place on wild birds to launder them as having been raised-in- 

 captivity." The recent indictment of the famous aviculturist Tony Silva revealed long-term 

 smuggling activities which involved some of the most endangered birds in the world. One of 

 his proteges stated that Silva instructed him on how to disguise birds born in the wild as birds 

 bred in the United States. To mask the identity of exotic wild birds, Silva allegedly forced 

 closed bands onto the legs of grown wild birds. 



The use of micro-chips to mark birds is useful, but only when accompanied by appropriate 

 paper work. Because implants can be put in a bird at any time or can be taken from a dead 

 bird and used again, there are opportunities for abuse. DNA analysis is essentially the only 

 reliable method for verifying the parental origin of an exotic bird, but according to aviculturists, 

 this method is cost prohibitive. 



Because there is no practical method of marking, which when used alone, can distinguish a 

 legitimately captive-bred bird from one captured in the wild, it is essential that the WBCA 

 require verification the origin of captive-bred birds imported into the United States. Requiring 

 foreign captive-breeding operations to meet certain standards of approval before they can 

 export particular species of captive -bred birds into the United States, reduces the likelihood of 

 illegalities. 



Regulation of the Domestic Captive-Breeding Industry 



Section 114 of the WBCA stipulates that within two years after the enactment of the WBCA, 

 the Secretary of Interior will review opportunities for voluntary programs for labeling exotic 

 birds and certifying exotic bird breeding facilities and retail outlets. Pursuant to this request, 

 the FWS convened a Public Meeting last April to review existing programs of this nature. The 

 meeting was well attended, particularly by aviculturists, who provided statements on existing 

 marking programs within the aviculture community. It was apparent that the majority of 

 aviculturists in attendance had been misinformed about the intent of the meeting. Repeatedly, 

 the FWS had to explain that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss "voluntary", not 

 mandatory, programs for marking. Some bird breeders mistakenly believed that if aviculture 

 does not come up with a satisfactory way to regulate itself through the institution of voluntary 

 programs for labeling exotic birds, then the government will intervene and impose such 

 regulations. 



" Micheis. Ann. Conversation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Joe Ramos. September 1995. 

 " Knights. Peter. 1993. Investigation of the Trade in African Grey Parrots. EIA. 



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