Parrot rescue and macaw rescue in Colombia are inseparable from one of the largest illegal wildlife trades in the Americas. Colombia hosts more bird species than any other country, and many of those birds — especially parrots, macaws, and amazons — are taken from the wild for the international pet trade.
The problem
- Millions of birds are taken from the wild across South America each year for the pet trade.
- For every parrot that reaches a buyer alive, several die in transport — from heat, dehydration, broken wings, or asphyxiation.
- Many trafficked chicks are taken from nests by destroying nesting trees, eliminating not only the family but also the nest site for future generations.
- Colombia is home to more than 50 parrot species, including the Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot.
How rescue works
Confiscated parrots need triage (many arrive injured or starving), rehabilitation in large flocking aviaries to relearn social behaviour and flight skills, and soft-release into native habitat. Done well, a single recovered parrot can re-enter a wild breeding population. Done badly, the bird ends up in a cage for the rest of its life.
What WARN is preparing to do
Working with local conservation partners across Colombia, WARN plans to fund parrot triage, large soft-release aviaries, and intelligence-sharing with enforcement authorities investigating the export pipeline. We also plan to support implementation of new restrictions on the domestic sale of native wildlife. We need your help to start.
We need your support to make this happen
World Animal Rescue Network is at the launch stage of this work. We do not yet have rescue numbers to share — and that is exactly why your support matters now. Every donation helps us put trained teams on the ground, secure veterinary supplies and equipment, and reach the first animals before they are lost.
Donate today to fund our first deployments, or sponsor an animal to back a specific species through rehabilitation. You can also join the network as a volunteer, fundraiser, or monthly supporter.
