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Before a permanent ban was established in 2007,
the EU used to be the biggest importer of wild-caught
exotic birds for the pet trade. Nearly 750,000
wild birds protected by the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were imported
annually and many more unprotected species were
also traded.
Eurogroup welcomed the decision to ban the trade
as the issue is still of great concern because
of the high numbers of animals that die because
of trapping and during transport. An estimated
40 to 70 percent of all birds die before reaching
their destination and many birds suffer greatly
at the expense of the trade. They are usually
caught by nets, traps and even sticky substances
applied to tree branches. Once trapped they are
crammed tightly into cages, bags or baskets and
kept in inadequate conditions for months while
waiting for export. They then endure long flights
to their final destinations and may be sold to
owners unaware of how to look after them properly.
The import of wild-caught birds is unsustainable
and threatens animal and human health. Recent
outbreaks of avian flu have highlighted the disease's
potential to spread from wild birds to European
poultry flocks and then to humans.
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