Every year, hundreds of African grey parrots are rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. While getting them out of the hands of traffickers is a major win, the reality that follows is tough. Many birds arrive at rescue centers severely weakened by stress, malnutrition, injury, and disease. Sadly, some don’t make it, and without advanced medical tools, it is often impossible to know why.

To change this, the World Parrot Trust (WPT) is stepping in to build a lasting veterinary capacity on the ground where it is needed most.

Advancing Diagnostics for Seized Greys

WPT’s Mobile Veterinary Unit is partnering with Fabien Murhula Bakenga, an avian medicine Master’s student at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. Alongside Dr. Steven Janssen and local rescue centers, Fabien is investigating recent deaths among seized parrots in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Together, they are:

• Improving post-mortem procedures to accurately find the cause of death
• Upgrading sample collection so local and regional labs can successfully analyze diseases
• Evaluating practical diagnostic tools that rescue centers might be able to sustain long-term

Hands-On Training for Rescue Teams

Science is only half the battle; everyday care matters just as much. WPT staff are on the ground providing hands-on mentoring to the local animal-care teams. The training focuses on:

• Biosecurity & disease recognition to stop outbreaks before they start
• Advanced animal care to give fragile, newly rescued birds the best immediate chance at survival
• Proper sample handling so the frontline staff feel confident investigating health threats independently

The Bigger Picture: Empowering Local Leaders

This initiative isn’t a temporary patch but rather an investment in the future. By supporting scientists like Fabien, the project ensures that advanced knowledge in avian medicine stays within the region to guide future wildlife rehabilitation programs.

By better understanding the diseases targeting trafficked birds, rescue centers can lower mortality rates, respond faster to large-scale confiscations, and ensure more of these remarkable parrots get the second chance they deserve – returning to the wild forests where they belong. This important work is safeguarding the future of the African grey parrot, which continues to be under siege through poaching and illegal trafficking.

This month’s Lafeber donation goes to support the World Parrot Trust’s mission to empower and train local veterinary teams to care for those African Greys rescued from illegal poaching. The goal – to save their lives and maybe even see them return to their native habitats!