175 



Falconiformes must continue to receive protection under the Wild Bird Conservation Act 

 because wild individuals remain in trade. Consumer demand for these species has proven 

 to result in illegal trade. Also, wild individuals have been laundered as having been bred 

 in captivity. Other avian species subject to regulation under the Act are also regulated by 

 several federal laws. Falconiformes must remain regulated by the Act because other 

 federal laws do not adequately protect wild populations from unsustainable trade. 



Proposed Change : Add a section to the Act stipulating that any offspring bom in the 

 United States of illegally acquired exotic birds be deemed legal. 



This proposal, put forth by the AFA, would promote smuggUng of wild exotic birds for 

 private collections. Some of the most endangered exotic bird species were never legally 

 exported from their countries of origin, so the owners of these birds are known to have 

 participated i:i or supported illegal activities. Legalizing the offspring of these birds would 

 allow these individuals to openly obtain notoriety for illegally possessing rare and 

 endangered species. It would also allow them to profit significantly from selling these 

 illegal birds or their offspring. The legalization of offspring of iUegally acquired birds 

 would increase the smuggling of wild individuals of these species in order to augment 

 parental stock for so-called legal" production. For many rare and endangered species, 

 such an increase in illegal trade could result in extinction. 



We are confident that the Subcommittee will recognize that these amendments, if accepted, 

 would severely undermine the ability of the Act to achieve its intended purpose of promoting 

 the conservation of exotic birds in the wild. The requirements which the AFA, PIJAC, WWF 

 and AAV are suggesting be weakened or eliminated were included specifically to curtail the 

 likeUhood of wild exotic birds being laundered into the United States under the claim that 

 they are captive bred. To ensure the continued success of the Act, it must be reauthorized 

 without any weakening amendments. 



Sincerely, 



^j^:^ 



John W. Grandy 



Vice-President 



Wildlife and Habitat Protection 



The Humane Society of the Urtited States 



Allan TTiomton, President 

 Environmental Investigation Agency 



\)^x^jt U'^ 



James K. Wyerman 

 Vice-President for Program 

 Defenders of Wildlife 



Christine Stevens, Secretary 



Society for Animal Protective Legislation 



