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The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA) is reminding the public that under the Wild
Life Protection Act, it is illegal to buy and/or sell Jamaican
Parrots, which are the Yellow-billed and Black-billed Parrots.
Persons found guilty of this offence can face a maximum fine of
$100,000 or twelve (12) months in prison.
It is also illegal to export
these parrots without a CITES Permit, as international trade is
regulated under the Endangered Species (Protection, Conservation and
Regulation of Trade) Act, 2000. Persons found guilty of trading
without a permit can face a maximum fine of $2,000,000 and/or two
(2) years in prison.
Yellow-billed and Black-billed
Parrots are endemic to Jamaica, that is they are found only in
Jamaica. They are listed as threatened on the IUCN (World
Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Species, that is they are
at the risk of extinction if the population is not protected. The
main threats to Jamaica’s parrots are loss of habitat due
deforestation, and poaching of the birds for sale as pets.
The public is being asked to
contact NEPA at 754-7540 or 1 888 991 5005 to report any sale and
purchase of Jamaican parrots.
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