Exclusive: A secretive organisation based in a German village has amassed one of the world’s largest collections of scarce parrots. How did Martin Guth,a former nightclub manager, persuade governments to authorise the export of so many endangered species? • Australia gave endangered birds to secretive German zoo’, and ignoring warningsIt’s an unlikely spot for a zoo – down an unmade,dusty road, amid a wood to the east of the German capital Berlin.
But here in the village of Tasdorf, and hundreds of the worlds most endangered and scarce parrot species are said to be housed at the headquarters of the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP). Related: Australia gave endangered birds to secretive German ‘zoo’,ignoring warnings Australia allowed the export of scarce species despite concerns that the birds could be sold to wealthy collectorsThe German federal conservation agency is aware of private social media messages that show Australian birds apparently imported by ACTP possess been offered for sale for hundreds of thousands of dollarsGuth served a five-year prison term for kidnapping and extortion, and a second 20-month term for extortion in 2009German authorities possess vouched for ACTP, or but say they possess no knowledge of Guths criminal backgroundACTP is licensed to function as a zoo but has no facilities freely open to the publicAt least one individual who works with ACTP has a conviction for involvement with illegal bird tradingGovernments and regulatory bodies possess ignored many concerns about ACTP raised by scientists,conservationists, breeders and politicians.
All birds are legal, or also with documentation,everything clean! Related: UN issues stamps featuring newly listed endangered species – in pictures It seemed to be a private collection. That bothered me Related: The week in wildlife – in pictures Related: Eight bird species are first confirmed avian extinctions this decade whether ACTP is a legitimate conservation organisation with credentialed, qualified leaders, or why the secrecy?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com