Though the domestication of animals such as dogs or cats is a common theme in American culture, the domestication of other animals often involves inhumane practices and dangerous consequences. Though legislation and bans have forced the suffocation of the illegal parrot poaching market which thrives off of parrots in rainforests around the world, many poachers and bird sellers still find their way into American markets. The parrots are taken at a young age, often prompting habitat destruction in the form of deforestation in the process. Not to mention, the bird species are endangered, prompting a disruption of the rainforest ecosystem and a loss of biodiversity. Parrots play a key part in replenishing the forest through the spread of fruit seeds, and they are often the center of attention for eco-tourism in Central and South America. Most of the hatchlings taken from the nests often die in the process of transportation to the United States and other developed countries, and those who take the animals often do not treat the animals with care. Illegal bird breeders, if feeding the birds incorrectly or forcefully, can actually damage the formation of the birds’ beak, often pushing the beak to one side, causing breathing and eating problems in adulthood. Luckily, my grandparents rescued two parrots from shelters after their previous owners neglected them. Beemer, an African Grey parrot, was left in a dark closet for most of his adolescent years, while Kemi, a Yellow-Headed parrot, was often taunted and teased with objects by her owners. Both birds, who were originally poached as hatchlings in Central America, are of species that are specifically poached for their ability to talk and mimic. Both greet guests, have the ability to recognize and then call names (mine included), and can also mimic the voices and attitudes of anyone in the room.
Even though the birds were rescued from horrible situations, thousands of other birds around the United States are not so lucky. The parrots, which can live an excess of over 60 years, are often misplaced once their owners pass away, move to a location where the bird cannot come, or frankly don’t have the means necessary to take care of them. Parrots are a huge responsibility, and many who purchase the birds do not realize how much time and energy goes into their care. My grandparents, who live in Arizona, know of an amazing woman who I have had the pleasure to meet on multiple occasions. Noelle, nicknamed the “Bird Lady of Phoenix”, rescues parrots that have been neglected. Birds who have had extreme cases of neglect start a phenomenon called “plucking”, where they pluck their feathers off one by one, often not being able to stop. The birds’ feathers do not grow back, often having dire consequences since the birds can die of hypothermia or constantly shake due to cold temperatures. Noelle helps the animals by placing them with their same species, and allows them to climb on various trees in her backyard. All in all, examples such as those mentioned indicate that certain species cannot possibly be domesticated. Throughout the module, mankind has tried to domesticate zebras on multiple occasions, but has been unsuccessful even though the zebra’s cousin, the horse, is easily domesticated. Since parrots have not been domesticated for generations to be calmer or tamer like dogs and cats, they should not be kept as exotic pets.
(Photos: Playground for the birds / my grandpa’s bird Beemer / Sky, a Blue Macaw Noelle had rescued)
Works Cited
“Tis’ the Season for Parrot Poaching – The San Pedro Sun News.” The San Pedro Sun News RSS. N.p., 28 May 2013. Web. 31 Jan. 2016. <http://www.sanpedrosun.com/environment/2013/05/28/tis-the-season-for-parrot-poaching/>.
szp5463 says
I find the point that people shouldn’t keep parrots as pets since people have not been able to properly domesticate them. My post in this module was about research and tests trying to rapidly domesticate foxes in Russia, a topic I found very cool and interesting. Now, I have to wonder, “Just because we can, should we?” Sure having a pet fox would be awesome, but the fox serves no purpose other than enjoyment for the owner. Is it right to keep an animal just to keep it? But that just leads to the question of the morality of owning any pets. Sure, some cats and dogs are used in locations such as farms, and serve a purpose, but most pet owners keep pets just to have them. It is an interesting dilemma; I really do enjoy having pets at home, but should I have them? Are cats and dogs ok as pets? What about ferrets or tropical fish? Where do we draw the line?