Why Are So Many Exotic Birds Being Smuggled Into the US?

As international air-travel slowly begins to resume, concerns about COVID-19 aren’t the only thing officials are worrying about. There’s also been a noticeable increase in bird-smuggling using inhumane methods. One traveler was recently caught with 35 birds sewn into the lining of his jacket. Customs and Border Protection specialist Ginger Perone told Inside Edition that she recently seized 60 birds that were hidden inside a suitcase. So why are so many being smuggled into the United States? #InsideEdition

[BeanSprout]

Those bird deserve to stay alive and at their home.

[SSJvegito]

My heart dropped when he said some of them don't even make it 😞😭

[napoleonibonaparte]

Once accidentally released, it will probably mess with the local species.

[dariususer]

Id love to see some of the smugglers shoved on a really tight cell.

[gabemendoza]

Because Joe Exotic is in jail. Someone needs to pick up the slack, lol. Tigers, birds, elephants, there's always an animal to exploit.

[tt]

People smuggling animals should be treated the same as people trafficking drugs or humans!

[indigogorge]

"these can be worth thousands of dollars"

cuts to the cages being placed on a pole where anyone can steal it

[nightsphenom]

Imagine seeing a whole gang surrounding a caged bird and saying “YEEEAH LETS GET IT”

[whyyluis_]

I have birds and see how people treat these birds made me feel 💔

[cupcake]

I feel so sorry for the birds. They deserve to be free😭

[darkwolf]

I wonder how these people would like it to be shoved into a toilet paper roll for 12+ hours, in the dark with no food or water. Sounds like an suitable punishment to me. And then lets see who can say "Sorry" fifty times the fastest.

[QuEEnCruella]

Keeping birds in such small enclosures is cruel and inhumane. Why, because you want them to sing to you?

[ok-xhdn]

My dad used to say that when he lived in Veitnam he trained birds to fly back to him so when he sold birds, and when the customers let the birds out of the cage they would fly back to him. Idk how true this story is but it's funny nonetheless.

[justnoble]

Imagine being locked in a cage whiles u were supposed to be free and flying

[yeoldeseawitch]

you can really make a competition out of any stupid thing these days...

[Frenite]

It’s sick that these people traffic these innocent birds for their own selfish desires. They deserve long prison sentences for that.

[Chefsopa]

So sad ! Why people can't be satisfied with pets like dogs and cats, they have to ruin everything!

[Graphics_Card]

Meanwhile, I was just watching the show “to catch a smuggler” and this came up

[laurag]

The profiteers competing with these birds in NYC and elsewhere create demand for the illegal bird imports and they should also go to jail.

[bushsbakedbeans]

I had an exotic bird fly into my house, I trapped it and tried to let it go because I don’t know what to do with it. I just came right back the next day and refused to leave. My dog doesn’t enjoy his company but he’s mine now I guess