December 12, 2025 -The ban was made permanent in 2007, allowing only captive-bred birds from approved countries to be imported. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) protects certain species from the effects of international trade. Several true parrots from the genus Ara (great green macaw, blue-throated macaw, scarlet macaw, military macaw), are all protected under Appendix 1 of CITES, meaning that commercial international trade in wild-sourced birds is prohibited.
Even if other authorities ask questions, the import-export paperwork for captive-bred birds checks out. That’s exactly what investigators found in Switzerland—paperwork that looked perfectly in order, leg rings that would raise no suspicion, and several young macaws that, according to the Swiss national, were the offspring of adult macaws under his care.PublishedMay 3, 2021
For wild birds that are illegally caught and sold within one jurisdiction, national laws and penalties apply. For the case of cross-border smuggling or international trade, international legislation applies. The damage that international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora can cause to biodiversity, the functioning of ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide has been long acknowledged as a serious threat.
Macaws are highly intelligent, mate for life and can live up to 60 years. The vibrant color and pattern of their feathers make them a popular species in the illegal pet trade, which has devastated populations of wild exotic birds. WWF supports efforts to phase out importing wild birds to the United States and encourages captive breeding as an alternative to illegal capture.
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