Officers from the Taco Pozo police station intercepted three men on the Barilari interprovincial road, resulting in the seizure of motorcycles and more than 70 chicks of the “Chacoan talking parrot,” a protected species.
The operation took place on the night of December 23.
Details of the rescue operation of the talking parrot chicks
Around 11:30 p.m., the force stopped two motorcycles: a Honda CG Titan, driven by 26-year-old Sergio Damián Risso Patrón, accompanied by 23-year-old Víctor Fabián Risso Patrón, both residents of Santiago del Estero, and a Honda XR, driven by 29-year-old Juan Ramón Ruiz, residing in the Luján neighborhood.
The occupants were transporting three suitcase-type crates with approximately 70 chicks of talking parrots.
Since they did not have the corresponding documentation, the officers proceeded to seize the motorcycles and the birds, taking the men to the police station.
Investigation and legal consequences
Investigations revealed that the Honda CG Titan motorcycle had an active seizure request in the province of Tucumán, which is why the driver was notified of an additional case for alleged concealment.
The rescued birds will be handed over to the competent authorities for their care and eventual reintegration into their natural habitat.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the specimens and the possible connection of those involved with wildlife trafficking.
The importance of protecting the talking parrot
The talking parrots (Amazona aestiva) are birds that inhabit the north of Argentina (Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Salta, Jujuy, Formosa). Between December and February, they reproduce, nest, and raise their chicks in tree hollows.
Every year, a large number of these chicks are illegally taken from their nests to be primarily transported to the country’s major cities to be commercialized as pets. They are transported in overcrowded and mistreated conditions, resulting in a significant number of them dying.
It is important to be vigilant during this time of year as these chicks, which come from the illegal wildlife trade, are often offered for sale.
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