The birds include 17 military macaws whose youth and short time in captivity make them good candidates for being successfully returned to the wild in Mexico. A large green parrot sporting a red frontal patch and blue flight feathers, the military macaw once thrived in Mexico, ranging from Sonora to Chihuahua in the north through Chiapas and Oaxaca in the south and east. Although that moratorium has been lifted for captive-bred specimens of certain species, it remains in effect for the birds being returned to Mexico, none of which could legally enter the United States. Their recovery in the United States and return to Mexico reflects a mutual commitment to conservation and partnership that contributes to the protection of wildlife in both countries. Service special agents believe that these birds, along with many of the others smuggled during this investigation, were taken directly from the wild in their native habitat in Mexico.
Exotic birds smuggled under similar circumstances often fail to survive such treks.
A fourth individual arrested in the case has fled the United States and is considered a fugitive. D.C. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. This site is produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of State.