TikTok Craze Fuels Surge in Illegal Exotic Bird Trade

In October, thieves broke into a pet shop in Botley, Southampton and stole 65 rare birds worth thousands of pounds. The theft was part of a growing trend driven by the surge in demand for exotic pets, particularly parrots and other birds, on social media platforms like TikTok.

The pet shop owner, Martin McLellan, was devastated to discover all the birds had been taken, with not a single one left in the cages. Experts believe the stolen birds may have ended up at bird auctions, illegal breeders, or even smuggled to Ireland where there is high demand for exotic species.

The rise in social media videos featuring dancing, singing, and talking parrots has sparked a renewed interest in owning these intelligent but high-maintenance pets. However, this has also led to a spike in birds being illegally captured from the wild or bred in poor conditions to meet the demand.

Many of the rescued birds arriving at the government's animal welfare facility are in a terrible state - dehydrated, diseased, and even plucking out their own feathers due to the trauma of being smuggled. Caring for these birds is an intensive process, with the facility currently housing over 210 feathered inmates.

Authorities warn that unless something changes, thousands more bedraggled and distressed birds will continue to be trafficked into the country, fueled by the public's fascination with exotic pets on social media.