The alleged smuggling of rare parrots out of Dominica has created controversy on the island and has taken social media by storm.
Not even a statement by the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) which is based in Germany, describing the alleged smuggling as “fake news” has served to quell the ongoing dispute.
Reports appeared over the weekend which said that 12 parrots were taken from Parrot Aviary in the Botanical Gardens and taken to Germany.
The ACTP confirmed on its Facebook page that there was a “transfer” of the birds from Dominica to Germany but insisted that it had the “cooperation with all governments involved.” It did not say how many of the parrots were taken.
A Facebook post by a conservationist who has worked with parrots and other endangered species on the island also confirmed that the birds were taken.
“Reporting to work after reading a news article, with hope that what you read was untrue. Well the news article was indeed true in some aspect; that the birds are gone!!,” he wrote. “I’m thankful I was able to help in restoring these birds health. In the conservation field, at times you feel DEFEATED but you shouldn’t give up. One lonely bird left behind and we decided to call it “LEFTY”.”
What remains unclear at this point is how involved is the government in the matter and at what level since there have been no official statements.
The Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrot said on Facebook that the government will publish a “detailed press release soon.”
“Unfortunately there are some fake news showing up about ACTP and Dominica,” the association said. “For now we can say that there is a new breeding program for the imperial and red-necked Amazon, like we have for the St. Vincent and St. Lucia Parrot already. And yes, there was a transfer of birds from Dominica to Germany. Of course was the transfer in cooperation with all governments involved and all birds have legal documents.”
But the questioning has not stopped with many people wondering on social media that if the move was a legitimate one, why is it being kept “hush hush.”
ACTP was asked on Facebook why were the birds taken to Germany in the first place and why not have a “solid breeding program” in Dominica.
“We have all the logistics here in Germany, like 24/7 vet, artificial insemination, aviaries and staff,” the ACPT replied. “So we are able to spend more money now in education, training of staff and capacity building on the ground. A wildlife conservation & education center on the ground is in process too! But pls (sic) wait for the press release by the government of Dominica first, then we will release more.”
But the matter appears that it won’t go away soon. A social awareness media campaign has been started on social media with the hashtag #BringBackOurParrots and many people have taken to the airwaves demanding clarification on the matter.
Another German again? Wasn’t it a German who came to Dominica saying he was going to build a Marina in Cabrits and up to today there is no marina on the site but the Government of Miss Charles had to pay him millions? It is always better to speak the truth because someone will discover your lies. Dr, Thomas in a statement said that there was no conservation taking place at the aviary but birds on display. Really?, Really? Then how do you Dr, Thomas explain that the first Sisserou Parrot which was born in captivity was hatched in the aviary at the Botanic Gardens and not in a German facility. Is that not conservation? And how do you explain that at a facility you claim was not doing conservation that you could transfer 10 Jacos and 2 Sisserous in good health to …………… The IF AW personnel working at the aviary must have felt betrayed by your actions. This was a total disrespect for such an important institution like the Forestry Division who were never…
Can we see the MOU for this so called conservation efforts?
I know for a fact it is a pretty interesting one and one that will let Dominicans know the real reason behind it all, even the reason why so forestry persons and other high ranking persons within this department was left out of this “conservation efforts”
Them dam Dom-in the cans was fooled by the white man again.
Actually they never got a chance to be fooled, this time it was removal by delayed deception on the part of the govt.
Is good .Now no more bonda jaco to eat. We talk too damn much.Besides, German is a good language for the birds to learn.Then they can promote Dominica as a tourist destination.
Statement by Rare Species Conservatory Foundation:
A Commentary on Dominica’s Parrots after Hurricane Maria
On behalf of RSCF and our international conservation partners, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the many caring supporters who share our deep concerns for the people and wildlife of Dominica. Living here in Florida, we are very familiar with hurricanes and appreciate both the devastation and resilience associated with them. The principal reason Dominica’s parrots survived Maria is the progressive, continuous conservation investment made by Dominica’s Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division (FWD) and its committed conservation partners over the past 30+ years. Dominica has long been a model for in situ parrot conservation. The country’s proud sovereignty and FWD’s governing authority over all wildlife matters, as specified in Dominica’s principal wildlife legislation, The Wildlife Act, and its role as Scientific Authority for CITES, … more at rarespecies.org
Mé bondié! They fighting over parrot now. Just to create a stupid controversy. Is parrot all you worry about. Some of all you dummiesincans need to spend some time, not in a conservatory, but in a brain rehab center to realign all you bird brain. Pachet sot.????
DNO, very irresponsible reporting.
So they tried their best to jail Mr. Linton for some boiled crabs he was taking to family and friends DURING OUR INDEPENDENCE, where our tradition is to cook local and eat local, but they assisted in the smuggling of our national parrots? So they fired a poor young security officer for allowing Mr. Linton to pass with boiled crabs, and yet they allowed and assisted in the smuggling of our national parrots and I suppose those who aided at the same airport might get a promotion this time around. Boy when we hate some people especially because of where they are from, is hate we hate them and will try to destroy them no matter what they do. No wonder we always getting pounded by hurricanes boy. We too damn wicked and hypocrite!!!
Let me give you guys a homework for tonight: all I want you all to do tonight is, imagine what they would do to Linton if ONLY, the German had said he was assisted by Mr. Lennox Linton. I don’t want thumbs up or down; all I want each of you to do is name the possible consequences or price, Linton would have suffered or paid, for assisting in the smuggling of our parrots
Nobody checked the aviaries after maria to see if the parrots were dead or alive but they now running their mouths.What about the mountain chickens that were sent to England? Parlay en util.
Actually, there is nothing wrong in transferring animals once the right protocol is followed and there is broad consultation which did not happen in this case.
It’s not just in Dominica:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/11/australia-endangered-parrots-german-zoo-actp?fbclid=IwAR2oV85tD81t8bxDoKV1EZhzwC_LYeIV-mxlekF5oYB5Cx5ZYEjhZSeb6Qg
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!! Stick to the real protocol and exhibit only. No trading in endangered birds
Our current slave master maybe even sold us already so tell me if is parrots they will not sell. I mean if they dealt historic sites like the cabrits, tell me if is birds they will not sell. Look at what they did to our passports, which is our Identity. Now a days they selling them to known wanted criminals so tell me if they will not sell birds. We are either sold already and our new owners have us in his back pocket or, we are for sale and sadly we don’t know that.
Skerritt already sold you out several years ago.
Please bring them back.this is very disgusting. Write to the minister. Bombard the phone. Shut down the place. Who is the moth…..?who did that. Name please so I can send a note. Beat drums outside his or her home. How sickening . What is next. They will soon sell the river’s so we won’t have access to them. Remember to avoid that shit from happening or else we finibat.
Amanda, they have major plans for Dominica as I was told several years ago, right before Tropical Storm Erica. I AM angry as I see it unfolding. They want Dominica’s natural resources especially water. This was done in Philadelphia and around the United States where the government shut down free access to the clean water creeks, etc and then turned around and started bottling the same water and selling it back to the people. They even added chemicals to the bottled water…and that is still going on today around the US. They even have the nerve to send their nasty bottled water along with their chemical-filled Rations for Hurricane victims and also sell that Chlorine, flouride …… bottled water around the world. I remember in Philadelphia, PA, when we used to drink clean water from the creek before they shut it down permanently. America (USAID), etc,, UK etc are all over Dominica offering help with NEGATIVE INTENTIONS. Their intentions are not pure. BEWARE DOMINICA!!!
Wtma will be sold next? The entire island? Morne pitons area? Roseau bay front?
Another piece of a mountain to be destroyed for a query like the one in point Michelle. But that’s if uwp come into power though
Stupid ….. make everything a political divide, instead of looking for country!!!!
I agree that there ought to have bern greater transparency in this matter. However, given our penchant to twist and turn things to suite our nlue agenda, would a press conference giving the ofgicial side change anything. Would the detractors of government simy show some dissention with the policy and not twist and turn it?
I want to hear from Dr. Reginald Thomas. How can that happen? Why wasn’t the Dominican people told. Since we small we are taught about the value of our parrots, the parrot our national emblem should have been given a huge farewell party leaving Dominica. Why were we not informed? Why does this government operate so shady? shame on the parties responsible. I tell you once you associate yourself with this government you tend to lose all form of credibility.
This is just another shameful act.
Dominica forestry members were not told of this, the IFAW members on the ground from around the world who came to Dominica were not told about this. The general public was not told about this. The tourism stakeholders were not told about this. If this was all done legally and had all the proper paperwork filed why then was this done without any public awareness.
This government does itself very little favors when it comes to letting the public know what is going on in the country. I hope for the best, but all the reports seem to suggest that this was some very sketchy business.
So, what will be done with the parents and the new birds that are hatched? where will they be located? will they be sold? will our sisserou parrot now be found all over the world as opposed to ONLY Dominica making us less unique? What is really going on? Of you bring them to recuperate and reproduce, then what? what is the total thinking here? Why could they not have been helped here? Was money exchanged for this? how much if so? who approved this “transfer”?
And not only that….Why does everything have to be under the cover of darkness??
I am VERY suspicious about this! Some big money changed hands dere!
And was there any personal account involved.
There is no transparency in any of the Caribbean islands, and Duminicah will always follow and never lead, but is so we will stay.
So St. Vincent and St. Lucia do their ting, so now St. Dominique have to follow, but they well late to the parrty.
Better late than never, but the parrots better than most of all you that complaining; they move from a …….. habitat in Duminicah to a 5 star habitat with roof over their head in Germany, along with expensive all you can eat buffet, security cameras, Wi-Fi, HD TV and entertainment for the male birds.
And like the many *Dominicans who have left the island for greener pasture overseas, doh look for them parrot to come back! cause I myself would not leave Germany and come back D/ca, just ask Mr. Mountain Chicken!
http://www.caribbean360.com/news/st-vincent-government-dismisses-allegations-it-traded-endangered-parrots-for-aid
The sellouts who are doing this to our birds should be jaild for no less than 50 years. They are still fulled by the white man.
….and who is doing the selling Possie if not greedie people of our own.
If we cannot take care of a few birds………..the Government needs to be disbanded immediately!! I’m serious! Not joking!
Don’t mess with my parrots!
IKR!!!
You know how much Sisserou parrot I had to draw and colour in school when i was a child??!!
No man! That’s my heritage!
I vex!!
Are they going to bring the birds back?
Each parrot was sold for 20000.00 US DOLLARS..
True or not, the point is that they should never have left our island. This is thei home, not some breeding programme in Germany.
Nou finir batt!!! DR Reginald Thomas tell US more!
So what’s the big deal? Since the death of Rosie and Pierro, Bird Island was taken or transferred from us to Venezuela; our passports were taken from us transferred and transferred to or sold to foreign criminals, to the point that as we speak, it is alleged that a wanted scamer from Nigeria was deported to Dominica, since he holds a Dominica passport. Now is our parrots they smuggling.
Let me tell you garçon, if our parrot disappears so will our country.Dominica for sale, Dominicafini bat.
Dominica never owned bird island, so educate yourself and stop spreading lies.
Good send them away.. At least we will no longer be regarded as mere talkers (parrots) but we will be forced into action.. WE need to stand and be counted. They keep suppressing our voice with no regard to the fact that our muscles are being stimulated.. Come on people rise and claim your rights.
Pirates of the Caribbean. The new breed. If senior public officers can do such deals and deliveries without the knowledge of a head of department we are doomed. Give the Floridian his portion too.
Why is this allowed to happen? Armed guards should be guarding the parrots before there are no longer any parrots left on Dominica, it is bad enough that the winds from hurricane Maria probably killed a lot of them. There used to be hundreds of parrots living in the rain forests of Dominica the remaining ones should be guarded and people attempting to take them should be jailed on the spot. The removal of the parrots from Dominica may have been an inside job. The flag of Dominica has a scisarou parrot, that speaks volumes right there and shows that the island once had an abundance of parrots. All cargo leaving Dominica by air and sea should be inspected to make sure that the island parrots are not being smuggled out.
If we Dominicans, who have a right to know, were informed we would not have to ask questions and speculate. Why the secret? Who is responsible? What else is involved in this situation?
On February 15th,2018 forestry division informed the public that rehabilitated parrots, after Hurricane Maria, were being released back to the wild, and they asked the public to “Keep an eye out for the island’s endemic parrots.” The release further stated that “if we all
work together we can ensure that our island’s parrots survive and thrive.”
If parrots were taken out of the Aviary at the Botanical gardens and there was “a transfer of birds from Dominica to Germany” as stated by ACTP, why wasn’t this published so that the general public, who was asked in February to “keep an eye out for the island’s endemic parrots,” would be aware? Do we need to call the forestry division at the numbers that were published in February to ask the whereabouts of the parrots, and to ensure “that our parrots survive and thrive?” What does the ACTP mean by FAKE NEWS?
ACTP, the cage is empty, what happen? If we, Dominicans were informed we would not have to ask questions and…
A simple google search even shows that they have not been successful with rehabilitating Vincentian parrots, why would we choose them to send our parrots to, if that were the case?
https://www.iwnsvg.com/2015/08/11/st-vincent-parrots-fail-to-reproduce-in-germany-also/
This government is always embroiled in controversy. Opaqueness is its motto. Dominica’s name has been sullied internationally by a radioactive leader and some pusillanimous ministers. They are a clueless group of parasitic vermin. It’s all down hill for the country as long as these incompetent vagabonds remain in office. Why can’t this government be upfront with the citizens? Why is this government always plagued with scandals? It takes scandalous events to get them to inform the public on matters concerning the country. What a government!
when the parrots come back ,they will be speaking German, and Lefty will not understand them , Everybody leaving, including the parrots.
Stupes, like all you don’t know by now anything goes in this country, the longer these guys stay in Government the worse things will get.
Right now nothing is of surprise with this corrupt regime that,and am sure they are getting monies into their pockets,shame on this worthless politicians,but one day the almighty will deliver Dominica from these ……….
Even if the transfer was light, why the secrecy? No one trusts this illegal, deceitful, corrupt, and self serving cabal that poses as a government. Where is the minister of agriculture Mr. Johndontknow in all this mess. Is he still in C/Bruce fighting with Austel and Laureen about who should and should not run next election? #Bringbackourbirds
Assertive like LL!
This crooked government and its bunch of morons. If it’s not passports it’s parrots.
How much more can the ordinary ,decent, law abiding Dominican can take ?
This place really needs a revolution. It’s sickening.
I won’t be surprised if a disease starts killing off our parrots like how a disease wiped off our crapaud.
DNO
Such a story DNO
I could not tell if this story was written by an amateur or a professional for it lacked content, it was filled with mystery and insinuation.
It would have better served the general public to have a heading “Endangered species missing from Dominica presumed stolen” and then print the information when you find it.
I think at this point that Dominica may be the only country in the Wide World that never turn politics off. Everyone no exception even the media is pushing their own agenda and trying to sway the masses one way or the other.
People are campaigning 24-7. This is absurd.
Here a few headlines since you are struggling with some.
I
What is global warming and how is it impacting our lives?
Is acid rain real and how has it impacted crops and livestock?
How can students use research to enhance their lives, and their community.
JUST AN OBSERVATION
Doubting Thomas, this story was reported in greater detail on the Mas in the cemetery site, before it broke on DNO, including the names of the alleged perpetrators. It is telling that so far there has been no official denial or even comment from our government on this and I find that very worrying
If you can reference MiTC as the source of information to convince you of the veracity of this story, then God help us. Do you still belive that 10,000 passports left Dominics in a diplomatic pouch?
@voice of reason
Really??!! So now, you’ve anointed yourself as the Grand Poo Bah of Absolute Intelligence and deem that you have the authority to dictate to Dominicans which topics they should be interested in? Dude you should change your handle to “Voice of Arrogance”. It would be a better fit.
If this was done legally why is it taking the GOVT so long to provide a press release as all their ducts should have already been in a row..
Although the question must be why was a press release not done before the transaction took place, why in secrecy and why not 4 birds( 2male & 2 female) instead 12 if the focus is breeding?
Why not conduct the breeding program in Dominica the birds natural habitant and educate the local with video/ pamphlet on GIS as it was done for Mountain Chicken which was on the extinct list?
This does not smell right and I won’t be surprise if the allegation of smuggling and or selling our rare parrots are true.
lol boy look jokes in this country, but on a serious not that one parrot left behind probably will go through depression aren’t the parrots social birds…
This is the first I am hearing of this and therefore I am in no position to comment. However, one thing I have noticed about our people: But for the kind generosity of foreign governments, there would have been very little development on the island. We have been begging and receiving foreign aid for as long as I can remember. The moment we have to give anything to anyone, there is always a loud hue and cry.
We were happy to receive assistance from our Caribbean brothers and sisters immediately after Hurricane Maria, but when a contract was awarded to a Bajan company, they fact that Barbados helped us did not matter.
We have become so accustomed to receiving, that we seen not to know what it is to give.
Your thoughts all over the place. How is that Bajan thing related to parrots being stolen from the botanical gardens. You talked about receiving foreign aid from governments, but what does that German criminal who smuggled our endemic birds have to do with the government. I don’t know how any Dominican (besides the idiots who got paid from assisting in the smuggle) can agree with this.
You should not conclude something unless you have the facts. I never thought these birds were stolen.
Perhaps Skerrit is jaleou because the sisserou is the central emblem of our flag and he wants to replace it wit a portrait of another parrot, himself.
Why did the gov not have a press release before tbat happened so there will be no speculations. This is a sad state. It is like there is no regard for the population. This government is behaving like a band of mobsters. What a bloody shame.
We want our birds back, and heads should roll
This is pissing me off to the max. Some Dominicans are just pieces of s***. My p.m, make sure you fire all of them and I hope the police force arrests them. Also contact German officials to see if they can be returned.
PM might all have known about it himself.
I wish you woukd quote the source of your story as the Dominican.net so persons can take it in with a grain of salt. Instead of stroking controversy where there is none. Where is the national outrage you are insinuating in your article? Smh
ADMIN: This is not the source of the story. The article indicates that several sources were used including the official ACTP facebook page.