‘Pretty’ parrots are more likely to be snatched up for Indonesia’s illegal wildlife trade, a new study reveals. The findings not only expose the key drivers behind the country’s illegal trade in these birds, but offer lessons for the potential emergence and spread of infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans.

The findings not only expose the key drivers behind the country’s illegal trade in these birds, but offer lessons for the potential emergence and spread of infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans — like COVID-19 and avian flu.

The study, involving researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), analysed two decades worth of data on the illegal trade of parrots in Southeast Asia.

The researchers found some key reasons parrots were at risk of being poached — with a bird’s attractiveness and the ability to sell it on legal markets being two main motivations.

«High demand for parrots as pets, and their removal from the wild for the trade have significantly contributed to their severe decline worldwide,» co-author Professor Rob Heinsohn from ANU said.

«One-third of the nearly 400 parrot species are threatened by extinction today.

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Materials provided by Australian National University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.