The straw that broke the Bulbul's back

Illegal trade in melodious Straw-headed Bulbul driving populations to critically low levels

The beautiful, melodious song of the Straw-headed Bulbul may very well be its downfall, as trapping for the Indonesian songbird trade is driving populations to critically low levels.

A newly-published journal paper in Bird Conservation International The final straw? An overview of Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus trade in Indonesia" shows that the species is still very much in demand for the songbird trade.

Market inventories in Kalimantan and Java between July 2014 and June 2015 recorded a total of 71 individuals in 11 markets in eight cities; this includes five birds that were kept as pets and were not for sale. Comparing this against historical literature, researchers found that as numbers in markets decreased, prices soared to over 20 times those recorded in 1987. This availability-to-price relationship suggests that the inflation in prices is linked directly to the rarity of the birds in the wild.

The Straw-headed Bulbul’s IUCN Red List conservation status was revised from Vulnerable to Endangered in 2015, but the authors believe that a Critically Endangered status more accurately reflects the situation.

"Just 71 animals over a year seems miniscule when compared to tens of thousands of birds traded in the Indonesian market. However, each animal taken is one too many for a rare species that has disappeared from most of its original range, and whose survival is now hanging by a thread," said Kanitha Krishnasamy, Acting Regional Director for Southeast Asia.

The species has most likely vanished from Myanmar, Thailand and Java, but small pockets remain in Sumatra, where there has been only one recent reported sighting since 2009. Populations in Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia have also greatly declined.

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Illegal Bird Trade Threatens Indonesian Species: Report

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: August 11, 2016 13:31 IST

JAKARTA, INDONESIA:  Tens of thousands of endangered Indonesian birds are being sold illegally at markets across the country, a wildlife trade watchdog warned today, flouting laws aimed at protecting these species from extinction.

Wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC recorded nearly 23,000 birds for sale at five markets in three major cities on the main island of Java.

More than two dozen species identified in the survey were fully protected under Indonesian law, meaning all hunting and trafficking of them is prohibited.

 These included the critically endangered Black-Winged Myna, native to Java and Bali, and other rare species found nowhere outside Indonesia's vast archipelago.

Bird keeping has long been part of Indonesia's national culture, with birdcages a common sight outside homes and shops, but increasing demand for some species as pets has led to dramatic population declines.

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Confusion over Maneka Gandhi raid at Lakadganj bird market

Aparna Nair, TNN | Apr 22, 2013, 01.56 AM IST 

NAGPUR: The Maneka Gandhi led raid at Lakadganj bird market on Sunday morning was shrouded in confusion till evening as it could not be decided as to who the action taking authority would be in this case.

While the People for Animals (PFA) called in the forest department for the raid who later took the confiscated birds and their owners to Seminary Hills, the department itself said that as the birds were not in the scheduled list they couldn't take any action in the case. The raid was joined by the Lakadganj police too. 

Initially, PFA thought that the forest department was responsible for taking action as Karishma Galani of PFA said, "We know that the forest department would say that the birds don't come under the scheduled list and that is why we have called for a copy of the judgment of Gujarat high court which the bans sale of any kind of birds." 

The forest department too was unsure about the applicability of the judgment and till evening it did not receive a copy of the judgment. Gandhi clarified, "Even though the birds do not come under the scheduled list, according to the Gujarat high court judgment, the sale of any bird is illegal and this is applicable in Maharashtra too." But after the department received a copy, it maintained that the matter was to be dealt by the local police. Till evening the birds and their owners were kept in Seminary Hills. 

"Ten partridges, five young rabbits, 74 pigeons, 55 lovebirds, four African cockatiels, 16 African lutino brids and a guinea pig were confiscated in the morning. Among them, two pigeons were dead, while many other birds had injuries on their head, wings and legs," said Galani. A complaint was lodged in Lakadganj police station. "Apart from the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act, a case will also be lodged under IPC Sections 428 and 429," said Galani. 

The birds have been presently kept at the Maharajbagh Zoo. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Confusion-over-Maneka-Gandhi-raid-at-Lakadganj-bird-market/articleshow/19669440.cms

Customs Service Thwarts Attempt to Smuggle 29 Rare Falcons

NOVOSIBIRSK/ABAKAN, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - An attempt to smuggle 29 rare falcons worth about $127,000 out of Russia has been thwarted, the Siberian customs department said on Friday.

In July, two men, one from the UAE and the other from Bangladesh, brought 29 falcons into Russia under the pretext of keeping them in more comfortable conditions during the UAE's hot summer. They said they planned to return the birds in autumn.

In August the local sanitary, veterinary and biodiversity authorities examined the birds, which were being kept in an enclosure near the Siberian city of Chernogorsk, and compiled a detailed report on their condition.

However, another examination carried out two months later produced some alarming results: the birds' identification rings gave different ages and genders. "Some birds even "changed" their species - gyrfalcons turned into Peregrine and Saker falcons," the Siberian customs department said.

It became clear that their owners had planned to replace the birds which were too old and unfit for falconry with younger ones, caught by Russian poachers.

The birds were seized and temporarily taken to a rare birds sanctuary in the Republic of Altai. Their value is estimated at 4 million rubles ($127,000).

Their owners were charged with attempted smuggling and face up to seven years in prison if found guilty.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20121109/177327088.html