Dutch authorities have seized 261 suspected wild parrot eggs at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after customs officers discovered them in the hand luggage of a couple travelling from Central America to Asia. The eggs were carefully packed in paper and bundled inside clothing, raising immediate suspicion during inspection.
Officials became alerted when they heard chirping sounds coming from one of the bundles and found a chick in the process of hatching. The species of the bird could not be identified due to its early stage of development. The travellers were detained by the Royal Military Police, though their identities have not been disclosed.
All parrot species are protected under the CITES treaty, which strictly regulates trade in endangered wildlife. As the travellers lacked proper documentation, the eggs were confiscated and transferred to a specialised facility, where they will be incubated and the chicks cared for.
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