Abstract

PLASENCIA-VAZQUEZ, Alexis Herminio; UC-YAH, Edwin Abimael; MEJENES-LOPEZ, Sol de Mayo A.  and  FERRER-SANCHEZ, Yarelys. Analysis of the illegal trade of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) in Pomuch, Campeche. Huitzil [online]. 2023, vol.24, n.2, e655.  Epub Mar 05, 2024. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2023.24.2.703.

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is under pressure from illegal capture for sale as an ornamental or songbird. To understand the current situation of illegal trade of this species in Pomuch, Campeche, we surveyed 9 bird catchers, following the snowball method. We found that, on average 17 Northern Cardinals per trapper are captured annually, although together they can capture up to 134 birds annually. The cardinal decoy trap is the only technique used for capture, and trappers reported a low 1% to 3% mortality of cardinals captured. Juvenile male cardinals are sold at a higher price, reaching a cost of $550 Mexican pesos for foreign buyers. The extraction of this species without any regulation, could lead to a decrease in its population. Therefore, we recommend establishing strategies for the protection of the species, starting by raising community awareness through environmental education.

Keywords : Charismatic species; illegal bird trade; illegal wildlife trafficking; ornamental birds; songbirds.

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