The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) has revealed plans of releasing over 100 African grey parrots that were rescued at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in April this year.
The parrots that have been undergoing rehabilitation, are expected to be released back to the wild after assessment and feasibility studies are concluded.
This was revealed by Dr. James Musinguzi, the UWEC executive director while inaugurating the first parrot rescue cage in Uganda, which was constructed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at Entebbe zoo.
At a tune of shs36m, the state of the art facility is currently housing the remaining 103 parrots that were rescued from the Uganda-DRC border.
According to Dr. Musinguzi, the new aviary will help the parrots to fly freely in order to maintain their natural instincts as they gear up to be reintroduced back into the wild.
He lauded the 10years collaboration enjoyed between UWEC and JICA that started with the Uganda wildlife conservation project which helped to improve the capacity of the zoo in terms of veterinary services, education services, animal welfare and animal husbandry practices.
Bob Mbaya Kabongo, a Congolese national was in May, jailed for smuggling 122 parrots after he was nabbed in Kisoro, South Western Uganda. He was arrested during a joint operation of the police, army and Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The UWEC boss also noted that all parrots have been ringed in order to easily get identified and now in the process of carrying out their DNA analysis to determine their parentage awaiting to fly after they are reintroduced in the wild.
However, the UWEC officials are still assessing and analysing the wild sites where the parrots are to be reintroduced.
According to Musinguzi, this shall not be the first time parrots are rescued and released back to the wild. “We once rescued over 200 parrots from Bulgaria that were rehabilitated from UWEC before being released to Ngamba island and Kibale national park,” Musinguzi explained.
He reiterated UWEC’s work of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing animals back to the wild.
Dr. Racheal Mbabazi, the manager for animal and horticulture department at UWEC said, Parrots are more known to imitate human vocals hence being used by many people as pets.
According to Dr. Mbabazi, parrots can also guard a home against thieves, as they can use their curved beaks to peck any suspicious intruder.
“On a black market, a single parrot can be bought at $5,000 (over sh19m) because of such special features,” Dr. Mbabazi intimated.
She revealed that the parrots had been compacted in just two boxes before they were rescued, hence some died while others have undergone successful operations and treatment and are now fully recovered.
Uchiyama Takayuki, the JICA Chief representative said Japan remains committed to supporting the quality of wildlife conservation in Uganda. He also revealed plans of establishing another wildlife education centre for children as one way of preserving the rich wildlife in Uganda and as well give quality education to Ugandans.
He noted that parrots are among the wildlife endangered species yet bought expensively on a black market. “So, we hope it is high time we stopped this illegal trade in parrots and the wild game at large,” stated Takayuki.
After the 103 parrots get released back to the wild, UWEC shall maintain 20 native parrots that were rescued from domestic homes and have proved non-responsive to the wild environment.
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