An exotic trade

* The UK is the biggest importer of parrots in Europe

* 250,000 exotic birds are smuggled illegally into the UK each year

* 2,600 species are traded internationally

* The main legally imported species into the EU are parrots and macaws (from South America); yellow-crested cockatoos (Indonesia); Spics Macaws (Brazil); African grey parrots; finches; weavers; abd red siskins

* The main illegally imported species are black cockateels (from Australia); owls (from Thailand); various birds of prey (from Arabic countries)