Fifty eggs suspected to belong to endangered parrots were intercepted at South Africa’s main international airport, with several of the eggs now hatching under specialist care.
A 50-year-old Thai national was arrested last Thursday at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after allegedly attempting to smuggle the eggs into the country inside a homemade incubator bag carried as hand luggage.
South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said many of the rescued eggs had successfully hatched, with the newly emerged chicks receiving intensive care to give them the best possible chance of survival.
Eggs Suspected to Belong to Protected Parrot Species
Initial investigations indicate that the eggs may belong to a parrot species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact species of the eggs.
The interception followed a joint operation involving the DFFE, the Green Scorpions, a specialised environmental enforcement unit, and several divisions of the South African Police Service.
The seized eggs were subsequently transferred to the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria, where specialist staff have been working to incubate them and care for the hatchlings.
South Africa’s Environment Minister, David Maynier, praised the agencies involved in the operation.
“Illegal wildlife trafficking can only be challenged by a co-ordinated defence of our natural heritage,” he said.
Maynier also thanked staff at the National Zoological Garden for working “tirelessly” to incubate the eggs and provide specialised care to the chicks.
Suspect Could Face 10 Years in Prison
The arrested man faces serious penalties if convicted. According to the DFFE, he could be fined up to 10 million rand ($626,000; £461,000) or sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, or both.
The investigation is expected to establish the exact species involved, where the eggs originated and whether they were being transported as part of a wider international wildlife trafficking operation.
Authorities will continue investigating the suspect and the origin and intended destination of the eggs as the hatchlings remain under specialist care.
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