Trade in African Grey Parrots for Belief-Based Use: Insights From West Africa's Largest Traditional Medicine Market

摘要: Over 1.2 million wild-sourced African Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) have reportedly been traded internationally since the 1970s, majority of which were taken from wild with serious implications for conservation, animal welfare and biosecurity. While international trade has mostly pet trade, in some West countries, are also consumed belief-based use. However, to date there little research into scale scope this its drivers. Here, we explore multiple facets use through interviews five vendors at largest ‘fetish’ market Africa Togo. We focus on understanding purpose medicinal spiritual parrots, socio-economic dimensions trade. Parrot heads most valuable frequently body part over last year (2017), sold primarily helping “improve memory”. Feathers common transaction use, largely purchased “attracting clients”, “love”, “help divorce”. Whole parrot had mainly “good luck” “protection witchcraft”. Our findings suggest approximately 900 past 10 years market. Most perceived an increase rarity parts 5 years, may reflect increased restrictions and/or deteriorating state populations. Although sale feathers collected beneath roosting sites does not negatively impact populations, relatively low value these compared other derivatives live suggests be minimal opportunity leverage mechanisms protect populations sustainable identify a need further investigations examine complex relationship between capture supply market, process many die, local derivatives.