The conference of the parties to that convention meeting in Sandtyon have taken the step to protect this west and central African bird from extinction by banning all trade of the bird captured in the wild.

The debate on the future of the African grey parrot ran for two hours and ended with a secret ballot.

The bird prized for its advanced speaking ability won support of well over two thirds of the 3 500 delegates accredited to CITES.

Richard Fowler of the conservation watchdog group traffic explains.

“In future,  trade in wild African grey parrot is banned,” he says

This will mean the 1 600 breeders  of Africa grey in South African will not be able to replenish their stocks from captured birds and will have their facilities inspected by CITES experts.

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