Three suspected traffickers have been arrested in Bertoua in the East Region of Cameroon for the illegal possession and trafficking of African grey parrots. The traffickers that included a Ghanaian national were arrested during a crackdown operation conducted by wildlife officials of the East Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with technical assistance from the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).
The suspects were found with 60 African grey parrots which they carried in the boot of a black Prado government service car belonging to a Divisional Officer (DO). The arrests took place as they attempted to sell the parrots.
One of the arrested traffickers was identified as brother of the DO whose car was used in transporting the parrots. The car was used to provide impunity and conceal the birds as they transported them from Messok in the Upper Nyong Division to Bertoua, capital of the East Region as such administrative vehicles are not controlled at checkpoints, though there is no official policy that exempts government vehicles from police control in the country.
People close to the matter say, the traffickers have used this modus operandi to trafficking in wildlife products. The parrots were captured and quarantined in a small village about 25 km away from Messok according to sources, that did not want their identities disclosed.
The trio of suspected traffickers belong to a wildlife criminal ring with each having a specified role in the illegal trafficking of the African grey parrots, according to investigators. One of the traffickers, the Ghanaian, with links to big time parrot traffickers, was in charge of capturing and feeding the parrots in captivity while the others, helped in the feeding, transportation and searching of buyers, same sources disclosed.
The African grey parrot or grey parrot is predominantly grey and black-billed. The head and wing are generally darker than the body and the head and wing feathers are slightly white at the edge. It also has a red feather tail. The bird is native to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenyan and Uganda and widely regarded as one the most intelligent birds in the world. It has the ability to talk human language and mimic sounds.
In 2016, the African grey parrot was up listed to Appendix 1 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) benefiting from the highest level of protection which prohibits any form of trade in the species. Therefore, according to the 2024 wildlife law, the three are liable to an imprisonment terms of up to 20 years and or pay a fine of up to FCFA 50 million if found guilty.
