Birds are common in the illegal wildlife trade and our teams rescue thousands of trafficked birds each year. To facilitate in their care, this project will help build a free flight aviary for rescued birds, allowing them to rehabilitate in a large, safe, natural setting at our Rescue Center and prepare them for release into protected habitat.
Southeast Asia is a poaching hot spot and native birds are commonplace on the illegal market. Targeted for meat and the exotic pet trade, Wildlife Alliance frequently rescues birds from wildlife traders and illegal markets, and brings them to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center for rehabilitation and care. In 2015, Wildlife Alliance rescued 1,715 birds from wildlife traders, which is over half of all the animals we rescued last year.
Rescued birds that cannot be immediately released are taken to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center to be cared for and rehabilitated. $3,000 will help build a free flight aviary for these rescued birds. This aviary will improve the health of the birds at the center by allowing them to socialize and exercise. By providing the birds with an enclosure where they are safe, can exhibit their natural behaviors, the birds will not only recover, but thrive so that one day they may be fit for release.
According to the IUCN Red List, 28 of Cambodia's bird species are threatened with extinction. By providing rescued birds with excellent care and preparing them for release into the wild, Wildlife Alliance aims to counter the effects of wildlife trafficking and prevent bird population numbers from declining.
