United States Citizen Convicted of Illegally Exporting Endangered Parrot

Brockville, Ontario, April 15, 2004 - A United States citizen has been convicted in a Brockville court of the unlawful export from Canada to the United States of an African grey parrot.

Mr. William Gorman, aged 46, appeared by way of agent in the Ontario Court of Justice – Provincial Division yesterday, and pled guilty to a charge laid by Environment Canada’s wildlife officers under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). Mr. Gorman did not have the required export permit for the bird.

A suspended sentence was handed down to Mr. Gorman by the presiding Ontario Court Justice. The African grey parrot was ordered returned to Mr. Gorman by the Justice as it is no longer required as evidence.

An investigation conducted by wildlife officers determined that on March 1, 2004, Mr. Gorman unlawfully left Canada with an African grey parrot known as “Togo”. The offence was detected when US Customs officers examining Mr. Gorman determined the parrot was not accompanied by the required Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) export permit from Canada. Mr. Gorman was refused entry into the United States on this basis and instructed to return with the parrot to Canada.

Upon re-entry into Canada, Mr. Gorman was questioned by Canadian Customs and Wildlife officers. The officers confirmed Mr. Gorman had failed to obtain a Canadian CITES Export Permit for the bird prior to his departure from Canada – an offence under WAPPRIITA. The African grey parrot was subsequently seized as evidence of that offence.

African grey parrots are an Appendix II species protected by CITES. Information on CITES permit requirements can be found at http//www.cites.ec.gc.ca/eng/sct0/index_e.cfm.

Environment Canada is the lead agency responsible for implementing CITES on behalf of the federal government. Within Environment Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service administers CITES and interacts with provincial, territorial and other federal agencies. CITES sets controls on the international trade and movement of animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation. WAPPRIITA is the legislative vehicle by which Canada meets its obligations under CITES.

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