March 26, 2011

    Japan Disaster

We ache for the heartbreak that has affected Japan as a result of the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

TSUBASA, The Society for Unity with Birds – Adoption and Sanctuary in Asia - its members, volunteers and founders Soushi Matsumoto and his wife, Noriko, have been called upon to assist with parrots in need. Many of you may not be aware that TSUBASA and TGF have been friends united in their cause and dedication to parrot for many years. The Matsumotos have visited and volunteered at TGF many times. Mr. Matsumoto has been a much-applauded presenter at several TGF symposiums and events. No one who has met the Matsumotos remains unmoved by the compassion and dedication that they have provided on behalf of parrots in Japan. Julie Murad has been the guest of TSUBASA and the Matsumotos twice, and with Shauna and Allen Roberts two years ago for a conference there. We were invited back to present in October 2011 at the All-Asia Bird Conference. We sincerely hope that recovery from the disaster will allow for this important event to take place.

Just over one year ago, when the Pueblo macaws came into TGF’s care, our Japanese friends raised over $10,000 just for the care of those macaws, and named two of the Blue & Gold macaws TSUBASA –means on big wings, and SAKURA, the famed cherry blossom tree with a special place in the Japanese heart. http://www.thegabrielfoundation.org/pueblosponsorship.html

Both names are symbolic of the strength and beauty of the Japanese – and our wishes for recovery go out to our friends and the Japanese people as they manage this tragedy one day at a time.

If you want to help animals in Japan, donations can be sent to the Humane Society International, at http://www.hsi.org/news/news/2011/03/japan_aid_plan and to the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, http://www.worldvet.org/node/7764  and at www.EastAsia.bestfriends.org

We are awaiting information from TSUBASA about how their international friends can send donations to them and we will post that information on our website as soon as we receive it.

Below is an excerpt from Reiko Soga DVM of Grow Wing Animal Hospital, Japan.

Dear Friends

Thank you very much for your offer and concern for us.

Currently the only official rescue work is being conducted by the disaster response team formed jointly by the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, the Japan Animal Welfare Society, the Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Japan Pet Care Association.

The latter groups are the largest animal welfare charities in the country and are connected to local veterinary associations. The aim of the team is to shelter as many animals as is possible near the area by recruiting the help of local vet clinics that are still functioning.

They also need to prepare facilities and supplies for the great number of refugees flowing into neighboring areas as most people have fled without much preparation.

This will be a long and uphill battle for everyone but the core team is determined to do what they can and to persevere till the end.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Reiko

2011-01-13 22:52

Dries Liebenberg, Beeld

Durban - More than 750 African Grey parrots worth about R2m died on a flight from Johannesburg to Durban.

The news has caused shock waves among conservationists, bird breeders and those involved in the aviation industry. The parrots died on December 24 on a flight operated by 1time.

Dr Steve Boyes, director of the organization World Parrot Trust Africa, said steps should be taken to ensure that something like this never happens again.

The parrots were part of an order of 1 650 adult African Greys which were caught in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be sold to South African breeders.

Ben Moodie, a well-respected Boksburg lawyer, alleges the birds were to be imported for his business Iceland Industrial Projects. He said he was only informed of the birds' fate on December 29.

"At the OR Tambo quarantine the birds were fine and I was informed that on arrival at King Shaka they were dead. I can understand a few casualties along the route, it happens. (But) this doesn't gel and I can only satisfy myself if they show me the carcasses," a distraught Moodie told The Witness.

Altogether 800 of these parrots were imported to South Africa in November. A further 850 are still being held in the DRC, ready to be brought to South Africa.

Disputed

In mid-December the parrots, which were then being kept in quarantine for 30 days at a state facility in Kempton Park, in accordance with legislation, became the focus of a long-standing dispute between breeders and in two urgent court applications.

The result was that Hendrik Matthews, a Roodepoort breeder who alleges the birds were intended for him to cover outstanding debt, had the parrots loaded on December 24 to be taken to a private quarantine station in Umhlanga.

On that day the quarantine station at Kempton Park closed until February 1 for cleaning and upgrading.

According to Michael Saltz, Matthews' lawyer, the birds were healthy when they were loaded at O R Tambo airport for the one hour flight on 1time to Durban. All the requirements for the transport of living cargo were met.

At King Shaka airport in Durban there was no movement to be seen in the crates when they were unloaded.

When the crates were taken to Express Air Services' store and opened, only 10 of the birds were still alive, and an hour later only one had survived, said Boyes.

Small dog survived

According to Anya Potgieter, spokesperson for 1time, the airline then decided it wouldn't transport more than four living animals per crate any longer, and exotic animals will only be transported if arrangements are made ahead of time.

According to The Witness she ruled out that the birds might have died from carbon dioxide inhalation, as the birds were travelling in a hold with an oxygen supply.

The airline denies that something could have happened on the plane to cause the tragedy.

A small dog traveling in the same cargo hold was perfectly healthy upon arrival.

Saltz, however, said parrots from the same group in two crates which were transported by another airline were healthy.

According to him there are indications that a lack of oxygen or dangerous gases could have caused the deaths of the birds

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/750-African-Greys-die-on-Durban-flight-20110113

CAPE PARROT CONSERVATION - YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED DESPERATELY!

Dear All,

Please go to this link and have a look at the Bush Warriors article on Cape Parrot conservation.

Link: http://bushwarriors.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/cape-parrot-in-peril-disease-could-cause-extinction-for-africas-most-endangered-parrot/

We would appreciate it if you let us know you "Like" the article and/or "Leave a Reply". We are collecting statements of support and advice from people around the world as part of our campaign material. We are currently facing a disease outbreak and continued capture for the illegal wild-caught bird trade. Cape Parrots need your support.

Yours in African parrot conservation,
Dr. Steve Boyes
Wild Bird Trust/World Parrot Trust Africa/Percy FitzPatrick Institute
steve@wildbirdtrust.com
boyes@worldparrottrust.org
rs.boyes@uct.ac.za

Planning on leaving the US with your parrot?

There have recently been at least two pet birds trying to re-enter the United
States that were confiscated because they lacked required paperwork. The right
information is simply not reaching the right people...

Please share where appropriate, particularly with your club's newsletter
editor.

''Birds and the Law''
Ignorance will not save you or your bird if you unknowingly break these
animal-specific laws
By Rebecca Sweat
http://www.birdchan nel.com/bird- news/bird- legal-issues/ birds-and- law.aspx

_______________________________________________
Ciao, Angela Rosaria Cancilla Herschel in Southern California

Being kind is more important ..than being important.
California Wildlife Center,volunteer wildlife warrior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pelon-KBut8

www.californiawildlifecenter.org

African Bush Traders Threaten Parrots

An urgent plea from the Wild Bird Trust & World Parrot Trust!

Dear All,

Please go to this link and have a look at the Bush Warriors article on the rampant trade in African parrots.

Link: http://wp.me/pH76q-2MD

Parrots are long-lived birds that are sensitive to the impacts of the wild-caught bird trade. We need to lobby the South African government to halt all wild-caught bird imports and support source countries in protecting their own natural heritage. The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to end this unethical trade and ensure parrots are safe in the wild.

We would appreciate it if you let us know you "Like" the article and/or "Leave a Reply". We are collecting statements of support and advice from people around the world as part of our campaign material.

We need to bring an end to scenes like the one in the attached photo. One minute these African Grey Parrots were flying free in the African jungle, socializing in large flocks, preening each other, and tracking the changing seasons. The next minute they are in this crate scared out of their minds, starving to death, dehydrating, and covered in their own droppings. This month, 11 crates stuffed with over 700 African Greys arrived at Limbe Sanctuary in Cameroon. There is a steady flow of similar crates filled with wide-eyed African Greys out of our African forests between October and December each year. Local extinctions occur every year throughout their range...

Yours in African parrot conservation,

Dr. Steve Boyes

Wild Bird Trust/World Parrot Trust Africa/Percy FitzPatrick Institute

steve@wildbirdtrust.com

boyes@worldparrottrust.org

rs.boyes@uct.ac.za

Urgent Appeal for the Lear's Macaw!

Parrots International is a 501(c)3 non-profit

Parrots International Web Site

PI Press - the Parrots International Online Magazine

Parrots International

15332 Antioch St. #417

Pacific Palisades, California 90272

African Grey Parrot Seizure

I would like to bring to your attention the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo's seizure of a consignment of African Grey parrots that were originally confiscated in September 2010 and rehabilitated at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

523 parrots were crammed into wooden crates by the dealer for export to Singapore and over 30 of them died. The remaining parrots were ready to be released back into the wild but are now being returned to the same dealer no doubt to be re-exported.

Please pass this email on in support of the World Parrot Trust, PASA, the Cape Parrot Project and other concerned organisations in helping to stop this from happening and to stop any further exports of African Grey Parrots from the wild. Please see the original message below and the request from Dr. James Gilardi, executive director of the World Parrot Trust, for action to be taken.

“If their journey ends, so will ours.”

Julie de Vigne
9 Devon Valley Way
Tableview 7441
Cape Town, South Africa
+27 21 557 7557
082 439 1539
---------------------------------------------
Original message:

November 30, 2010:

PASA Joins with World Parrot Trust to Condemn Parrot Seizure

The Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and the World Parrot Trust (WPT) today called on international law enforcement agencies to intervene following the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s seizure of over 490 African Grey parrots from a sanctuary with the intention of returning the birds to the original dealer.

PASA and the WPT submitted a brief to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and asked that any attempt to ship the parrots out of DR Congo be blocked. Similar briefs were also sent to Interpol, the World Customs Union, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

PASA also alerted the CITES Management of Singapore – the parrots’ original destination – to the possibility that a large consignment of parrots could be imminent.

“PASA is outraged at the manner in which the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has removed these parrots from a PASA member sanctuary,” said Doug Cress, executive director of PASA. “We were given no warning and no cause. We rescue and rehabilitate wildlife to conserve important species – not make them well so that dealers might get rich. We condemn this action, and will do anything we can to keep this shipment from leaving Africa.”

The African Grey parrots were originally confiscated in mid-September by the Congolese wildlife authority (ICCN) and local government officials, and taken to the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center in South Kivu. There, 523 parrots were found crammed into crude wooden crates, and despite the best efforts of Lwiro staff and veterinarians, over 30 of the birds died from injuries and stress.

The WPT worked with PASA and Lwiro to rehabilitate the others, however, and constructed spacious enclosures to speed the recovery process. Earlier this month, over 400 of those original birds were judged fit to be released back into the wild.

But the DR Congo’s Ministry of Environment ordered the parrots seized on Nov. 22, and had the birds placed back inside the original travel crates. The crates were then flown back to Kinshasa and the original dealer.

The crates and the manner in which the parrots were shipped are blatant violations of IATA standards, while the original CITES permit that accompanied the parrots listed only 300 – far below the number that were actually in the crates.

"The World Parrot Trust collaborated closely with PASA, Lwiro and a number of key advisors in this most recent parrot rescue, and feel the birds were seized in a manner that is neither legal nor humane as outlined in CITES regulations,” said Dr. James Gilardi, executive director of the WPT. “We respectfully request that the CITES Secretariat investigate this action by the DR Congo government, and take steps to halt this and future illegal and inhumane consignments of African Grey parrots."

African Grey parrots are found throughout Central and West Africa, but have been heavily hunted for the pet trade in recent years. Experts believe that up to 21 percent of the wild population is captured each year. African Grey parrots are listed as a CITES Appendix II species has been the subject of two recent Significant Trade Review processes.

PASA is comprised of 20 member sanctuaries in 12 countries, which rescue and rehabilitate chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, drills, and other endangered primates. For more information, please visit the PASA website, Facebook page, Twitter, or contact PASA at info@pasaprimates.org.

THE PUEBLO FLOCK IN THE NEWS

The Denver Channel - ABC 7 Denver (1/26/2010)

NBC Channel 9 Denver(1/26/2010)

CBS4 News Denver (1/22/2010).

The Pueblo Chieftain (1/21/2010)

Julie Murad was featured on the following radio programs in Colorado on 2/7:

Alice 105.9 FM www.1059.com  6 AM

KOSI  101 FM  www.kosi101.com 8 AM

The Mountain  99.5 FM  www.995themountain.com 7 AM

KEZW 1430 AM  www.Studio1430.com 7AM

JWM INTERVIEWED FOR THE BOULDER DAILY CAMERA

March 10, 2009

THE BEST FOR THEIR NESTS: DENVER POST ARTICLE ON PARROTS AS PETS

Featuring Julie Weiss Murad and friends of TGF

January 22, 2009

FAITHFUL FRIENDS ON ANIMAL PLANET

Wild Birds episode features JWM

March 2009

JWM INTERVIEWED BY TARA TATUI ON FEATHERED AND FREE WEBSITE

Have a look and a listen.

LISTEN TO JULIE MURAD, GUEST SPEAKER ON THE BIRD TALKS WEBCAST IN OCTOBER 2008!

Click here to listen!

GOOD BIRD MAGAZINE

See what's happening over at Good Bird, Inc.

TGF ON FOX 31 COLORADO - MAY 21, 2008

http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6595829&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

TGF IN CYBERSPACE

TGF has entered the 21st century and joined the BLOGosphere! Check it out! The Gabriel Foundation Blog

AND join us for some Bird Talk in our Parrot Chat Room, sponsored and moderated by The Gabriel Foundation. You must be a member to join. Go to Yahoogroups to register

Become a friend of TGF on MySpace - make us your Cause and help the parrots of TGF!

Check out zootoo.com, the website that brings pet lovers together. Let all your new friends know about the work we do here at The Gabriel Foundation!