Feathered friendship
Today is World Parrot Day and Born Free is joining the celebrations with some grey-t news! Dr Andrea Donaldson, from our Rescue & Care team, reports.
Rescued grey parrot (c) Reni Jantek
You might be surprised, but our charity is devoted to saving African grey parrots. For many years, we’ve helped our long-term colleagues at Limbe Wildlife Centre give these endangered birds a second chance, at their sanctuary near the coastal city of Doula in southwest Cameroon.
Dr Andrea Donaldson
A flock of rescued parrots recently flew free, into the tropical forest. But, why did some of these birds then return? You might be surprised to find out why, and you’ll definitely be delighted so, read on!
African grey parrots are renowned for their exceptional intelligence, emotional sensitivity, and social nature. Very sadly, these traits make them highly sought-after in the illegal pet trade. This has led to their unfortunate status as one of the world’s most trafficked bird species.
With our support, Limbe Wildlife Centre has dedicated itself to individuals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, working hard to return them to Cameroon’s tropical forests. In celebration of World Parrot Day, we’re so pleased to provide an update on their remarkable rescue, rehabilitation, and release programme for the endangered African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).
Since 1993, incredible Limbe Wildlife Centre has been a place of safety for African grey parrots, rescuing over 4,000 over the years. Many arrive in poor condition – suffering from dehydration, parasites, injuries, and trauma.
To address these challenges, the centre provides comprehensive veterinary care, nutritional support, and a conducive environment for recovery. Flight feathers cut by poachers can grow back, lonely individuals are introduced in a flock.
The flight aviary (c) Reni Jantek
A significant advancement in Limbe’s rehabilitation efforts was the establishment of a 242m² flight aviary, co-funded by Born Free a few years ago. This facility allows parrots to regain their flying abilities, facilitating quicker rehabilitation and reducing overall captivity time. As a result, Limbe Wildlife Centre has been able to rescue and release more parrots, contributing to the restoration of their dwindling populations.
Limbe Wildlife Centre employs an innovative ‘soft-release’ methodology, to gradually reintroduce parrots into their natural habitats. When the birds are ready, this process includes providing food and shelter in a specially designed release aviary.
Birds can come and go as they please, enabling them to adapt to their new surroundings before complete release. This approach has been instrumental in ensuring the successful reintroduction of rehabilitated parrots into the wild.
(c) Reni Jantek
Earlier this year, 28 African grey parrots were moved into a release aviary to begin a two-week acclimation period. The aviary doors were then opened, and the rehabilitators held their breath. As expected, the birds were cautious at first. Just one bold parrot took the first flight into freedom.
But, by the very next day, all 28 had soared into the forest, embracing their second chance at life in the wild! In total, 55 African grey parrots have already been released by Limbe Wildlife Centre this year.
This is just the beginning for 2025. With 48 parrots currently in their care, Limbe Wildlife Centre is preparing for even more releases in the months ahead for those that are ready. In a heartwarming twist, the newly freed parrots have been spotted returning to visit their friends still in rehabilitation — proof of the strong bonds they’ve formed and the success of their transition.
The continued success of Limbe Wildlife Centre’s African grey parrot programme relies on the support of partners and donors. Looking ahead, the centre plans to fit trackers on released birds to monitor survivorship, distribution, migration patterns, and rates of recapture. This data will be invaluable in refining conservation strategies and enhancing the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts.
We are so proud to be supporting them, and hope you are too!