An assessment of avian species sold in the South African pet trade

Non-native species have been translocated from their native to new geographic ranges through the pet trade. Consequently, some become threatened with extinction, while some establish and become invasive. We surveyed 117 physical pet stores across South Africa between September 2018 and September 2019 to determine avian species composition, availability, price and IUCN status. We reviewed the literature to determine which avian species have established populations outside captivity, including their impacts and clutch sizes. We recorded 169 avian species from 26 families, of which 147 were non-natives. Psittacidae (23%) and Estrildidae (20%) were the most available families. The budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, and Fischer's lovebird Agapornis fischeri were the most available species recorded in all the provinces. Most species were listed as least concern (78%) and sold at lower prices, while threatened species were rarely available and sold at higher prices. Only 14 avian species have established populations outside captivity, with most associated with agricultural impact. In addition, six of these 14 species were among the top 20 most traded and have been observed outside captivity in South Africa. Assessing the trade of avian species is essential for conservation and invasive species management. The results from this study may help improve early surveillance for detecting the establishment of potential invasive avian species.