Addressing Threats to Raptors in China
Although China’s Wildlife Protection Law prohibits the capture and trade of wild
birds under national protection, a large number of wild, migratory birds are
illegally hunted, trapped and traded.
According to statistics released by the Customs Office of the Beijing Capital Airport, the number of confiscated falcons listed under second-class national protection and Appendix I of CITES has ranged from 100 to 500 annually during recent years.
Some of these raptors -- including endangered species such as the Saker falcon and common kestrel -- were illegally caught or purchased in northwestern regions of China to supply the international pet trade.
Catching, transporting and trading wild birds inevitably causes injury and death to many of them. In order to escape the notice of forestry police and airport customs officials, traffickers sometimes sew shut the eyelids of the raptors to minimize their struggles. They may also wrap the falcons in towels. In addition, cruel conditions during long journeys lead to the death of many wild birds.
It is estimated that the ratio of birds that reach market to those that die during seizure and trafficking is one to 20.
An IFAW-supported survey of wild bird markets in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei showed that more than 100 species -- including huge numbers of wild birds such as red-footed falcons, marsh hawks, goshawks, sparrow hawks and Hill mynas -- are sold in these markets.
The monetary value of the wild bird trade is estimated at RMB 130,000 (US $15,707) to RMB 140,000 (US $16,915) every year in just one Beijing market.
The Beijing Raptor Rescue Center will help raise public awareness about animal welfare, provide rescue and rehabilitation training to government officials and veterinarians, and save the lives of individual falcons, kestrels and other birds of prey.
According to statistics released by the Customs Office of the Beijing Capital Airport, the number of confiscated falcons listed under second-class national protection and Appendix I of CITES has ranged from 100 to 500 annually during recent years.
Some of these raptors -- including endangered species such as the Saker falcon and common kestrel -- were illegally caught or purchased in northwestern regions of China to supply the international pet trade.
Catching, transporting and trading wild birds inevitably causes injury and death to many of them. In order to escape the notice of forestry police and airport customs officials, traffickers sometimes sew shut the eyelids of the raptors to minimize their struggles. They may also wrap the falcons in towels. In addition, cruel conditions during long journeys lead to the death of many wild birds.
It is estimated that the ratio of birds that reach market to those that die during seizure and trafficking is one to 20.
An IFAW-supported survey of wild bird markets in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei showed that more than 100 species -- including huge numbers of wild birds such as red-footed falcons, marsh hawks, goshawks, sparrow hawks and Hill mynas -- are sold in these markets.
The monetary value of the wild bird trade is estimated at RMB 130,000 (US $15,707) to RMB 140,000 (US $16,915) every year in just one Beijing market.
The Beijing Raptor Rescue Center will help raise public awareness about animal welfare, provide rescue and rehabilitation training to government officials and veterinarians, and save the lives of individual falcons, kestrels and other birds of prey.
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A BRRC staffperson wearing heavy protective gloves holds a little owl that was recently delivered to the Center. Photo © IFAW/Lao Qin
