 Rosemary Low
The largest threat facing the Yellow-crested Cockatoo is the wild bird trade
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Cockatoo conservationists cock-a-hoop
25-10-2004
One of Indonesia's most beautiful and threatened parrots, the Yellow-crested Cockatoo, has received a boost to its conservation hopes.
At the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), held in Thailand between 2-14 October, 166 nations approved a proposal by the Government of Indonesia to place the tightest possible controls on the international trade of the species, by transferring the species from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention.
International trade in Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea will now only be possible if the birds have been bred in captivity, and even then will require special permits. It will make smuggling of cockatoos caught in the wild more difficult. The Yellow-crested Cockatoo is already protected under Indonesian law, but illegal trapping and trade have continued and contributed to the threatened status of the species.
 BirdLife
Yellow-crested Cockatoo of the Sumba race citrinocristata
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The Yellow-crested Cockatoo has been reduced to a small wild population and is Critically Endangered
BirdLife Indonesia has been working with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry for the conservation of the Yellow-crested Cockatoo for the last ten years. Special efforts have focused on Sumba Island in southern Indonesia, where local communities and Government have enthusiastically supported a campaign to stop trapping of the local race citrinocristata.
Sukianto Lusli, Executive Director of BirdLife Indonesia, commented: "The transfer of the Yellow-crested Cockatoo to Appendix I is an important step in stopping the international trade. We are pleased that BirdLife Indonesia’s data was used by the Government to help make the case for stricter control. However we are alarmed by the continuation of illegal trapping of cockatoos and destruction of their habitat. We will continue to work with people in Nusa Tenggara, especially on Sumba, to save this unique species."
BirdLife Indonesia's work on the Yellow-crested Cockatoo and its habitat is supported by the Zoological Fund for Species and Populations, Dr Stewart Metz, and Danida through DOF - BirdLife Denmark