§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment on 13 November 2003 (HC Deb, 417W) on wild bird imports, why in 2002 10,058 parrots were brought in out of a total of 25,531 for the five years 1998 to 2002; and why the figures for other wild-caught birds has risen each year since 1998, with a four-fold increase between 2001 and 2002. [HL1764]
§ Lord WhittyLevels of trade in wildlife vary, and are driven by many factors including market forces, supply and demand, changing policies of various governments and by actions taken as a result of international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
I am not aware that there was any particular reason why trade was greater in 2002 than in other years or why trade in particular species has increased in general over recent years.