In the case of Floyd and his kind, a great many of them were caught for breeding. No one really cared to make pets of them. There was a lot of this going on in the late '80s before importing them was outlawed. Floyd is missing 2 toes due to his capture. Up until I got him, he was kept in a small cage with a female. He was completely wild when I got him but has since become semi-tame. I can hand feed him some things but he won't let me handle him.
I've had several people try to get him from me but I won't let him go. Why should I send him from one house, where he is at least comfortable, to another house where everything is strange to him?
I have found a sanctuary in Washington state that seems to be very much what I'm looking for. I just can't see a tropical bird living out his life there, though. And then there's the issue of getting him there. I'm looking for something closer and more down South.
I do feel some guilt about getting him but I try to look at the whole picture. I took him from what I guess would be considered a 'bird mill' to an environment where he is at least content. Also, in the case of Floyd, there really is no home for him to go to. His natural habitat has been largely destroyed due to logging and he would most likely be dead if he weren't caught in the first place. I just owe it to him to give him a proper life now.
P.S. I really am against the wholesale logging of habitat in many developing countries. It's the west's desire for exotic woods that drives this and Floyd is just another uncounted victim of this practice. Also, buying things (mostly baked goods) with palm oil in them fuels the market that is leading to the slaughter of the Orangutan. We have to remember that our everyday decisions can have huge consequences. |