The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo has helped care for dozens of parrots confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the U.S.-Mexico border. The latest group includes white-fronted Amazons and orange-fronted conures, both assessed as being in very good health after veterinary examinations. Since 2022, the zoo has supported nine parrot confiscations involving dozens of birds across seven species, including species classified as Endangered. Its work combines veterinary assessment, treatment, quarantine and long-term placement for animals unable to return to the wild.
Care After Confiscation
The Bronx Zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams are working with federal authorities to support the continued care and appropriate placement of the recently confiscated birds. This specialist response is particularly important for animals removed from illegal trade, where transport and captivity can expose wildlife to injury, illness, stress and poor welfare conditions.
Chuck Cerbini, WCS Bronx Zoo Curator of Ornithology, said:
“These animals were stolen from the wild and are victims of the illegal wildlife pet trade, and our responsibility is to give them the best possible chance for a healthy future,”
The zoo assists in identifying suitable homes for confiscated wildlife, drawing on its animal husbandry, quarantine and veterinary capabilities. This partnership gives seized animals access to professional care while helping authorities respond to wildlife trafficking cases involving live animals.
Orange Fronted Conures
The orange-fronted conures arrived through three separate confiscations at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past 17 months. Following veterinary examinations, the birds were found to be in very good condition and have been transferred to another zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for ongoing professional care.
Native to the Pacific slope from western Mexico to Costa Rica, orange-fronted conures live in open woodlands, forest edges and savannas. They are classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Illegal trapping for the pet trade remains a major threat to the species, which has disappeared from parts of its former range.
Chuck Cerbini, WCS Bronx Zoo Curator of Ornithology, stated:
“Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our veterinary and animal care teams provide specialized expertise to assess, treat, and care for confiscated wildlife. This partnership reflects the important role that zoos can play in responding to wildlife trafficking and ensuring that rescued animals receive the care and appropriate homes they need.”
White Fronted Amazons
More than a dozen white-fronted Amazons are also being cared for following confiscation at the border within recent months. Some are now in the Bronx Zoo’s World of Birds, while others are receiving care at WCS’s Central Park Zoo. The birds arrived in encouragingly good condition and have continued to do well under professional care.
White-fronted Amazons are native to Mexico and Central America, extending into north-western Costa Rica. Though classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, they are frequently trapped for international trade and are also listed under CITES Appendix II. They are the smallest Amazon parrot and among the few parrot species in which males and females have visibly different plumage.
Across Latin America, parrots face pressures from poaching and forest habitat loss. In Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve, WCS teams protect scarlet macaw nests and support vulnerable chicks as they prepare to return to the wild.
A Positive Breeding Result
The World of Birds has also recorded an encouraging outcome from its work with confiscated wildlife. This summer, two red-lored Amazons that had arrived through separate USFWS confiscations formed a breeding pair and successfully raised two chicks.
Chuck Cerbini, WCS Bronx Zoo Curator of Ornithology, reflected:
“Seeing two birds rescued from separate trafficking incidents successfully raise chicks is an encouraging outcome. It demonstrates the value of providing confiscated animals with appropriate veterinary care, a stable environment, and the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors.”
Supporting Wildlife Protection
The parrot response forms part of WCS’s wider work to prevent illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade, protect species in their habitats and support wildlife law enforcement. The Bronx Zoo recently reported helping to rescue and rehabilitate more than 1,000 North American box turtles confiscated from illegal trade since October 2024, providing emergency triage, veterinary treatment, quarantine and rehabilitation.
Chuck Cerbini, WCS Bronx Zoo Curator of Ornithology, said:
“Together, these efforts demonstrate the essential role that zoos can play beyond their public exhibits: serving as resources for law enforcement agencies and providing a lifeline for wildlife affected by illegal trafficking.”
By pairing professional animal care with conservation programmes and enforcement support, the Bronx Zoo is providing a practical route to recovery for birds removed from the illicit pet trade. The care of these parrots illustrates how zoological institutions can contribute to both animal welfare and wider efforts to protect vulnerable species.
