South African police have arrested two Thai nationals in separate incidents for allegedly attempting to smuggle eggs of endangered parrots out of the country, as authorities intensify efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs said a 50-year-old Thai man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on August 20 after being found carrying 50 eggs in a homemade incubator placed inside a handbag.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the eggs belonged to parrot species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in wildlife to prevent extinction risks. The department did not specify the parrot species.
Earlier, on July 16, another 23-year-old Thai national was also arrested at the same airport on suspicion of carrying 418 parrot eggs in two homemade incubation bags. The Thai embassy in South Africa has not yet responded to requests for comment.
South Africa is grappling with wildlife trafficking across multiple fronts, from rhino horns poached, tiger bones from illegal breeding farms, to abalone and succulent plants.
The Department of Environmental Affairs emphasized: "The illegal collection and trade of parrot eggs poses a serious threat to wild bird populations and animal welfare. Eggs are often concealed in homemade incubators and transported under conditions that severely affect their viability and endanger embryos and chicks."
Staff at the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria are incubating the confiscated eggs. The department's statement noted that some eggs have hatched successfully, and the chicks are receiving special veterinary care to increase their chances of survival.
The arrests followed a campaign conducted by the Environmental Management Inspectorate, also known as the "Green Scorpions," in coordination with police intelligence, border security, and endangered species units.
Under regulations, the illegal export of CITES-listed species in South Africa can result in a fine of up to 10 million rand (approximately $460,000), a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, or both.
