African Grey Parrot blood smuggled in grim emerging trend

The blood of the African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus is being traded alongside their tail feathers and skulls according to community intelligence gathering around Lobéké National Park, southeast Cameroon.

The research, carried out in March 2026 by the “Demand Reduction and Behaviour Change along China’s Parrot Supply Chains” Project found that trafficking of the strictly prohibited species continues despite stricter protections on the species both internationally through CITES Appendix I and nationally as a Class A protected species in Cameroon.

What we are seeing is a deliberate move away from live birds towards wildlife products that are harder to detect, such as blood, skulls and feathers, but which originate from the same killing of a strictly protected species"

said Momballa‑Mbun Constant, Senior Research Officer with TRAFFIC Central Africa.

Across borders with little visibility

We are observing a clear convergence between physical markets and online trade...What once appeared localised is now showing signs of structured and possibly networked trade.”

noted Bricette Nguemwo, TRAFFIC researcher and co‑author.

African Grey Parrot skulls, red tail feathers and blood are prized as artefacts for belief-based, ritual or medicinal purposes. Seizures of these skulls and feathers alongside other animal remains like elephant tusks, pangolin scales and gorilla parts point towards multi-species trafficking routes supported by flexible and organised criminal networks, with reach beyond Africa through online marketplace platforms.

Cameroon’s Lobéké National Park remains an important ecological site for African Grey Parrots whose feeding sites converge with forest clearings. Data collected by Lobéké National Park in 2024 notes their activity around park borders as particularly under pressure, where land is shared by forest communities who rely on natural resources, and enforcement is most challenged.

Local communities who attended the African Grey Parrot public awareness meetings recognised the significance of the species, as well as the consequences of its unlawful trade.

We did not realise that parrots carry the same legal penalties as elephants and gorillas...If this continues, our forests will lose an important species.”

said Doh Domokoakili Vallery, the Chief of Mambele village.

People take risks because they lack alternatives...But once the law and consequences were explained, many agreed the trade is not worth the damage.”

noted another community representative in Libongo village.

investigations that go beyond live animals

In response to these findings, TRAFFIC and its partners call for:

• Greater attention to derivative wildlife products, not only live animals;
• Improved intelligence‑sharing across Central and West Africa;
• Systematic integration of wildlife trafficking cases into organised and convergent crime investigations, including financial and cross‑border dimensions;
• Enhanced awareness among enforcement agencies of non‑traditional parrot products;
• Sustained community engagement and livelihood alternatives in source landscapes.