A national decree in the Democratic Republic of Congo has granted full legal protection of African gray parrots, marking one of Africa’s most significant wildlife conservation victories.
On August 13, 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially banned the capture, trade, and possession of African gray parrots nationwide. This landmark decision brings complete protection of African Gray parrots, aiming to end years of exploitation through the international pet trade.
African gray parrots are highly prized in the exotic pet market for their intelligence and extraordinary ability to mimic human speech. Their cognitive skills make them favorites among collectors and pet owners worldwide, pushing demand and black-market prices to extreme levels. A single wild-caught parrot can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars, fueling efforts toward stronger protection of African gray parrots.
The new decree makes it a criminal offense to capture, kill, sell, or transport these endangered birds anywhere within DR Congo, closing the loopholes traffickers had exploited since partial protections were introduced in 2006.
Although the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned international commercial trade in gray parrots that same year, DR Congo entered a reservation allowing continued exports. That exemption created confusion and left room for traffickers to operate under a false veil of legality.
According to Terese Hart of the Lukuru Foundation, which monitors wildlife trade at Kisangani Airport, parrot shipments briefly declined after the 2016 CITES listing but soon rebounded, surpassing pre-ban levels. The resurgence underscored that international agreements alone cannot stop trafficking without strong domestic enforcement.
The parrot trade has been devastating not only for populations but also for individual birds. Mortality rates reach 65-70% along the supply chain, meaning that for every parrot sold, at least two others die from stress, dehydration, or injury during capture and transport. Traffickers often clip wings or break feathers to prevent escape, and many birds die long before reaching the market.
Local initiatives helped pave the way for national reform. In early 2025, provinces such as Tshopo and Maniema independently banned capture and trade, proving that localized enforcement could work. These models inspired the Ministry of Environment to extend protection of African gray parrots nationwide.
John Hart of the Lukuru Foundation noted that the decree closes the main avenue for trafficking, but emphasized that the next crucial step is removing DR Congo’s CITES reservation to fully align with international commitments.
Enforcement is already underway. The Lukuru Foundation and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation opened a parrot rehabilitation center at Kisangani Zoo in April 2025. Within five months, the center received 112 parrots seized from traffickers. Additional facilities in Lodja and Dingi have cared for and released over 400 rescued birds.
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Still, the challenge remains significant. Bijou Koy, Environment Minister of Tshopo Province, warned that released parrots could be recaptured unless local communities are engaged in protection efforts. Education and grassroots participation will be vital to make the decree truly effective.
For many rural trappers, capturing parrots has long been one of few ways to earn cash income. Conservationists stress that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with sustainable livelihood programs.
The P3CK initiative, launched in 2022 by the Lukuru Foundation, is training local authorities, improving care for confiscated birds, and supporting community development. Environmental activist Jean-Claude Sefu of SOCEARUCO noted that the decree finally gives honest officials the political backing to curb trafficking, which had long persisted with local approval.
Next, conservation groups are urging DR Congo to formally withdraw its CITES reservation to complete the international process. Neighboring nations such as Cameroon and the Republic of Congo already prohibit exports, meaning this decree brings DR Congo closer to regional cooperation on parrot protection. Monitoring progress will depend on population surveys and enforcement data, which Lukuru and its partners plan to collect over the coming years.
Wildlife trade researcher Neil D’Cruze from the nonprofit Canopy said the new decree, if implemented effectively, could deliver huge benefits for both conservation and animal welfare.
African gray parrots are among the most intelligent non-human animals, capable of complex problem-solving, understanding concepts, and even building vocabularies of hundreds of words.
Now, with complete protection of African gray parrots enshrined in national law, DR Congo has taken a historic step to ensure these remarkable birds continue to thrive in the wild. The challenge ahead lies in keeping that promise through education, enforcement, and ongoing international cooperation to secure a brighter future for both parrots and people.
