A group of scientists conducted a large-scale sampling to analyze the keeping of wild parrots as pets, a common but illegal practice in Costa Rica, with serious consequences for their ecosystem.

For the sampling, researchers covered an area of ​​2,000 kilometers to identify native parrot species, recording more than 1,200 observations of these birds. The sampling included roadside surveys and household visits.

Among the findings, the team found that native parrots are kept as pets in more than 80% of the households surveyed.

According to Pedro Romero Vidal, a researcher at the Doñana Biological Station, the most alarming finding was identifying «the magnitude of the illegal trade in a country that should be an example of environmental protection on a continental, and even global, scale.»

Costa Rica is considered a global model for conservation, with 26% of its territory designated as protected areas. However, the team identified that this measure alone is insufficient.

However, according to Romero Vidal, the study confirms that «the diversity and abundance of parrots decreases significantly in agricultural areas.»

The scientific team was made up of researchers from Spain and Costa Rica, through the Doñana Biological Station, the Pablo de Olavide University, the National Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Miguel Hernández University.

The team called for strengthening law enforcement and creating stricter measures against the illegal wildlife trade, as well as working on a cultural shift to reduce the demand for wild-caught parrots as pets.

If these changes are not made, the team warns that Costa Rica, despite being a pioneering country in environmental policies, could face the extinction of species such as the wild parrot.