Trade of parrots in urban areas of Madagascar
Keywords:
parrots, pet, Madagascar, Coracopsis vasa, Coracopsis nigra, Agapornis canus, perroquets, inséparables à tête grise, animaux de compagnie,Abstract
The live capture of parrots is causing increasing concern across Africa. In Madagascar, home to three species of parrot (Coracopsis nigra, C. vasa, Agapornis canus), no study has examined how these species are being extracted from the wild and traded. In this study, we examined the procurement, length of ownership, and the end of ownership of pet parrots. Data were collected via household surveys (n = 440 interviews in 9 towns), market visits (n=17 markets in 6 towns), and opportunistic data collection methods in urban, Malagasy towns. Most Coracopsis spp. are purchased (59%) or captured directly by the owner from the wild (22%), although we were unable to determine how A. canus was procured. Survey respondents reported purchasing Coracopsis spp. for the price of USD 5.36 ± 3.20. The average Coracopsis spp. was kept in captivity for 3.17 ± 2.51 years. No survey respondents provided information on the purchase price or length of ownership for A. canus. Ownership ended primarily when Coracopsis spp. escaped/flew away (36%) or died of unknown causes (21%). A. canus also flew away, although this was only reported in one instance. In-country demand appears to be met by a trade network of both informal and formal actors. It is unclear whether current protections for Madagascar’s parrots, as far as the domestic market is concerned, are sufficient to ensure sustainable extraction of live individuals.
RÉSUMÉ
La capture de perroquets vivants est une préoccupation grandissante en Afrique. À Madagascar, qui abrite trois espèces de perroquets (Coracopsis nigra, C. vasa, Agapornis canus), aucune étude n’a examiné la manière dont ces espèces sont extraites de la nature et vendues et achetées. Dans cette étude, nous avons examiné l’acquisition, la durée de possession, et la fin de possession des perroquets domestiques. Les données ont été collectées grâce à des études dans les ménages (n=440 enquêtes dans 9d villes), des visites dans les marchés (n=17 marchés dans 6 villes), et à une collecte de données opportunistes dans des zones urbaines malgaches. La plupart des Coracopsis sont achetés (59%) ou extraites directement de la nature par les propriétaires (22%) ; il nous a été impossible de déterminer les moyens utilisés pour l’obtention d’A. canus. Les personnes interrogées ont déclaré l’achat des espèces de Coracopsis pour la somme de 5,36d ± 3,20 dollars US. En moyenne, ces espèces ont été gardées en captivité pendant 3,17 ± 2,51 ans. Aucune personne interrogée n’a procuré d’information sur le prix d’achat ou la durée de possession pour A. canus. Pour les espèces de Coracopsis, la possession s’est principalement terminée lors de la fuite/l’envol (36%) ou la mort liée à des causes inconnues (21%). La fuite d’A. canus a également été déclarée, mais dans un cas seulement. La demande locale semble être satisfaite par un réseau commercial d’acteurs formels et informels. Il n’est cependant pas encore clair si la protection des perroquets de Madagascar, permet que l’extraction de ces espèces pour le marché domestique soit menée de façon durable.
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