The Taliban’s Department of Agriculture in Kandahar announced Sunday the export of 600 rare parrots of the Lovebird species from a private zoo in the province to Kuwait.
In a statement, the department said the parrots had undergone a 15-day quarantine period and were subjected to necessary health examinations to secure international health certification before their transfer.
Previously, around 300 parrots from the same private zoo were exported to Qatar, according to the statement.
Concerns over wildlife conservation
The move has sparked criticism from environmental activists and Afghan citizens, who expressed alarm over the capture and export of rare birds and animals, including the endangered snow leopard.
They stressed the importance of preserving Afghanistan’s biodiversity and protecting its wildlife instead of facilitating their export.
“Years of conflict and instability have already caused a significant decline in the population of Afghanistan’s rare species,” one activist said. Critics have urged authorities to focus on conservation efforts rather than contributing to the depletion of the country’s unique fauna.
The criticism highlights broader concerns over wildlife management in Afghanistan, where decades of war and neglect have endangered many native species. Environmentalists continue to call for stricter measures to safeguard the country’s ecological heritage.
