Check hotel parrots, State tells police
Police have been asked by the State to investigate a report by a tourist that a hotel off the island of Kadavu is holding two parrots listed as endangered species.
Interim Environment Minister Bernadette Rounds- Ganilau said the capture of the parrots was illegal and an offense under the Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002, which the Department of Environment enforces.
A tourist and visitor to the resort, Neil Wing wrote to Mrs Rounds-Ganilau last month expressing concern that two parrots listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) were being held on the island.
The Kadavu parrot or prosopeia splendens is listed as vulnerable because of trade and the continued destruction of its habitat.
“After our complaint to the police in Vunisea on the 10th August, we requested if they would go and investigate to clarify the report from Mr Wing and perhaps release the birds,” Mrs Rounds-Ganilau said.
She said the resort owner was liable for a fine of $5000 or two years imprisonment, under Section 23(2) of the EPS Act.
“My director of environment, Epeli Nasome has also written to the permanent secretary Agriculture and the Commissioner of Police for their assistance,” she said.
“We have asked the Ministry of Agriculture if one of their officers accompanied the police in Vunisea to the resort to confiscate the parrots on behalf of the animal and health division as under the Games and Birds Act they also have responsibility. We were told today (yesterday) that the police in Vunisea could not go as they had many court cases and not enough staff to cope.
“We were very disappointed but understand their situation.”
Police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Ulaiasi Ravula said he was not aware of the report.
He said it was important that police officers attended court sessions in Vunisea because magistrates only made the trip from Suva when cases were on hand.
He said he had no further information on the case regarding the parrots.
Efforts to get a comment from the hotel yesterday proved futile.
Mr Wing and his wife visited Kadavu in late July and stayed at the resort.
He claimed the owner of the resort had two baby Kadavu parrots kept in a cardboard box at the resort.