Association of Avian Veterinarians

Update on Australian Import - Export Question
Author(s): Keith Dickins
Source: AAV Today, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jan., 1987), p. 31
Published by: Association of Avian Veterinarians
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Viewpoint
on Australian

Update
Keith Dickins

recently established by the aviculture
industry to balance the viewpoints of the
and

well-organized

animal

well-financed

liberation groups in Australia (in Sydney
alone, there are 54 such groups). The
ABT is currently producing a series of
films and videotapes on Australian
parrots in captivity and in the wild with
the intention of preparing a video
equivalent of Fors haw's illustrated books
on parrots.

The

comments

presented

here, from a seminar held during
Kay tee's Great American Bird Show, are
Mr.

views

Dickins'personal

and

do

not

reflect the views of the

necessarily

he

organizations

involving smuggling by two prominent
aviculturists, I believe that within two
under

years,

s many aviculturists are aware, the
JF\
last legal imports of avian species into
Australia were in 1935 and the last legal
exports from Australia were in 1969.
At this particular point in time, the
import and export situation i; n Australia
is looking better for those people who
are promoting these activities. In the
past year there have been two
independent studies delivered to the
government (one by Snowden, head of
the Australian National Health and
Quarantine Institute and one by Bulmer
from the Canadian Department of
Agriculture), both of which
recommended that the bans against
importation and exportation of avian
species be lifted.
Importation
of

the grave

concern

over

Australia

and

a recent

incidence

of

aviary

Australia.

intended for the poultry industry, this
group is no longer interested, so when
the facility does come into existence, it
will be primarily for aviculture. The

be able to pay.

the

species.

My impression is that the majority of
the avicultural community is against the
export of adult wild caught species. My
personal opinion is that the American
avicultural community would not want
these birds in a general sense. The
market in the U.S. wouldn't be able to
support the large numbers of wild
caught birds they are talking about (i.e.,
quarter of a million birds per year) and
the prices would
be

a very

crash. I believe
short

term,

that

short

operations

native

aviculture
who

are

interests
concerned

are

small

about

from

range

species

$120 to $200. There is little incentive to
breed even some of the $200 birds
are

there

so many

out

coming

of the wild. In Australia, galahs, Sulfur
crested cockatoos and King parrots do
not breed well in captivity. Plum-heads
are easy to get to lay eggs, but raising
viable young is difficult. There is no
evidence to suggest that Australian
species breed any more readily for
Australian aviculturists than they do in
the U.S. Exportation of aviary bred
Australian native species would be
expected to reduce stock that is
available to the Australian aviculturist,
increase

over

the price
aviculturist

"average"

what

the

could

pay,

and

have the side effect of increasing the
demand for endangered species, which,
not

would

course,

be

exported.

In my opinion it is extremely
unlikely
that such species as Gang Gangs or
Major Mitchells would ever be allowed
to leave the country. Gang Gangs don't
breed particularly well, and it is
especially difficult to identify the
individuals; because of their
exceptionally short tarsus, banding

is

unsuccessful.

singularly

We are looking into electronic
identification methods such as those
using surgical implants, because it is
only by such fail safe mechanisms
(which would be supplied by the
government body) that the export of
avian species from Australia would be
allowed.

If you think you want
and

America,

sighted effort.
Even the potential export of aviary
bred native Australian species is not
overwhelmingly supported. Most
Australian

Australian

of

Exportation

The report that recommended
controlled exportation of Australian
species did not specify whether this
refers to exportation of wild caught pest
species or aviary bred Australian native

would

what impact the exportation of aviary
bred native birds will have on them.
The majority of aviary bred

because

I understand that some level of
appropriation has been made and plans
are being drawn up for what is
reported
to be the most secure quarantine
facility
in the world. The proposed location is
Torres Island off Adelaide in South
Australia. Although the original plans
for such a quarantine facility were

Potential

Because

importation

bred species from specific Newcastle
disease-free regions will be allowed into

import operation will probably have to
be subsidized, however, because the cost
will be greater than what aviculturists

represents.

introduction of exotic diseases to

controlled

strictly

circumstances,

would

Potential

Question

Export

Mr. Dickins is President of the Parrot
Society of Australia (New South Wales)
and Assistant Secretary of the
Association of Bird Keepers and Traders
(ABT). APT is a political lobby group

-

Import

you

believe

these birds in
you

a

have

case for getting them, it's up to you to
state

case.

your

Australia

can't

we

Unfortunately,
say,

"These

birds

in
are

great as pets," and it appears that the
veterinary journals and other literature
support

our

opinion.

AAV TODAY

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VOL1 NO.1 1987 31