1.
Habitat
destruction and degradation, which is
mainly as a result of the following:
Commercial afforestation;
Historical (mostly selective) felling for timber and non-recovery
of forests;
Current selective felling for timber, in particular the removal
of old (Podocarpus) trees which are most suitable for nest sites and/or
fruit production;
Material collection (timber for firewood and poles, and other
products for muthi) by members of communities living close to forests;
Disturbance to forest undergrowth (natural regeneration reduced)
by cattle and other livestock in forests.
Habitat fragmentation and loss which
is confounded by the low rate of
parrot population increase, and reduced geographical distribution.
Studies of nesting requirements suggest that the nest-sites are
limiting as few nests have been found; consequently, there is little
recruitment (Wirminghaus et al. 2001 b).
2.
Capture for
illegal trade:
Most capture appears to be
‘organised’ with local people employed to do
the catching. Only a few incidents are known of local people catching
parrots to sell on an ad-hoc no prior demand basis. Most birds appear
to be caught outside natural forest areas at a food resource,
post-fledging juveniles appear most vulnerable. Demand for Cape Parrots
from overseas has reportedly increased in the last couple of years,
probably largely due to the recognition of the separate species status
and an appreciation of the species’ rarity (and rising value). Due to
the critically low numbers of Cape Parrots remaining in the wild
current legal off-take is prohibited by provincial nature conservation
legislation. Consequently all trade in wild-caught birds is illegal.
Some experts believe illegal trade to be the most significant cause of
population decline quoting it as being intensive and impacting over a
short time frame (a few years) whereas the effects of habitat
fragmentation and loss are mid- to long-term factors. Habitat loss
limits more severely the possibility of the population recovering
naturally.
3.
Psittacine Beak
and Feather Disease:
Some sub-populations of Cape Parrots
appear to be infected with the
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Virus. Ten birds confiscated at the
roadside were found to be infected with the virus, for which there is
currently no effective treatment. A few wild birds in the Eastern Cape
and KwaZulu_Natal have also shown clinical symptoms which include
abnormal feather loss (and sometimes regrowth in yellow), bill and nail
growth, and in the late stages paralysis. The disease is usually fatal
for nestling birds although adults may survive if well nourished.
4.
Persecution:
At certain times of the year, when
natural forest fruit abundance is
low, flocking of birds occurs in orchards, where they are vulnerable to
capture and persecution. Parrots have been shot for crop protection
i.e. as they were raiding pecan nut and soft fruit orchards. Also, some
may be killed for food by members of local communities.
5.
Climate change:
Changes in rainfall patterns and
seasonal temperatures are likely
affectinnservation of forest habitat, provision of nest-boxes,
effective policing of the bird trade, and a captive breeding programme
to supply the aviculturalist demand and prevent further removal of
birds from the wild (Wirminghaus et al. 1999; Wirminghaus et al.
2000b).
Cape Parrot Working Group
Contact Details: Email: CapeParrot@ukzn.ac.zaThis web
page is kindly hosted by UKZN.
The contents of this website may not necessarily reflect the views of
UKZN or all stakeholders of the CPWG.
Web Page last
updated Dec
2006
