The police and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) found nine dead parrots last week. The animals were in aviaries behind a house in the municipality of Aa en Hunze.
The police announced this today. A spokesman does not want to say in which village the animals were found. In addition to the nine dead animals, twenty living parrots were also found, who lived there under poor conditions. The police received a tip about the welfare of the animals.
During a check, the dead and still living parrots were found in dirty cages. They would also have had too little water and food. The live parrots have been taken to a shelter, the dead ones are being culled.
The occupant of the building has not been arrested, but is suspected of animal neglect and keeping and trading parrots without the correct certificates. Parrots are protected under a certain treaty. This means that most species must have a closed leg ring and an EU certificate.
The research is in its final phase. The Public Prosecution Service decides on any criminal prosecution.