Hong Kong and Singapore together imported more than one million live wild birds over a 15 year period. Nearly two thirds of those birds came from Africa.
A trade spanning continents and decades
A new report analyzed import records from 2006 to 2020. It found that Hong Kong brought in roughly 660,000 live birds. Singapore imported about 400,000. The most common species included finches, canaries, and parrots. Many of these birds were wild caught, not bred in captivity.
Why local communities took notice
The trade raised concerns among conservationists and local bird enthusiasts in both cities. Hong Kong and Singapore are major transit hubs for wildlife. Large numbers of live animals pass through their ports each year. People in these cities care about the origin of the birds arriving in their markets. African countries supplied the majority of the birds. This put pressure on wild populations in places like Tanzania, Senegal, and Mali.
Local bird watchers in Hong Kong reported seeing species for sale that they knew were declining in the wild. Some of the imported birds ended up in pet shops and private collections. Others were sold at bird markets that have operated for decades. The scale of the trade surprised even seasoned observers.
The mechanics of a billion dollar industry
The global trade in live birds is worth billions of dollars. Asia is a major destination. The report showed that the trade continued steadily across the 15 year period. There were no significant dips except during the early months of the COVID 19 pandemic. Even then, shipments resumed quickly.
Importers in Hong Kong and Singapore sourced birds from dozens of countries. African nations were the top suppliers. But birds also came from South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The report did not track how many birds died during transport. Mortality rates in the live animal trade are often high.
A quiet but massive flow of wildlife
The one million bird figure only covers legal imports recorded by customs authorities. The actual number is likely higher. Smuggling and mislabeling are common in the bird trade. Some species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But many common finches and canaries are not protected by international law.
Local residents in Hong Kong and Singapore have begun asking more questions about where their pet birds come from. Animal welfare groups have pushed for stricter regulations. The report did not recommend specific policy changes. It simply documented the scale of the trade.
The findings show that the demand for live birds in Asia remains strong. The supply chain stretches across oceans and continents. For now, the birds keep coming.
