Birds have, for centuries, been captured from the wild to be kept in cages – valued for their looks, songs and ability to imitate sounds. Data compiled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the global agreement that regulates trade in threatened animals and plants, indicate that in the 1990s and early 2000s Africa was a leading supplier of live birds to global markets. Most were captured from the wild and sold to western European countries.
This trade was permitted under rules at the time, despite concerns raised by conservationists about animal welfare and public health. Then in 2005, a global outbreak of avian influenza prompted a suspension on imports of all wild birds into the European Union, saving millions of birds from being captured and sold.
Shortly after, in 2007, 114 of the most traded bird species were removed from the CITES lists. These species had accounted for over 70% of the global bird trade. Currently, over 80% of bird species are not listed by CITES and very few countries publish data on trade in non-CITES species.
