Red-and-blue Lories: Rescue from Trade
Pusat Informasi Sampiri (PIS), Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center (Tasikoki WRC), North Sulawesi Provincial Department for Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA), Marine and Local Police, and other law enforcement.
Addressing ongoing seizures is essential in conserving Red-and-blue Lories (Eos histrio), given their Endangered status and continued capture for trade. A concerted approach uniting NGOs, law enforcement agencies and forestry departments is needed.
WPT’s key collaborators in the effort will be the North Sulawesi Provincial Department for Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA), Marine Police, Local Police, Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre and Pusat Informasi Sampiri (PIS). A multi-faceted strategy aims to stop the initial movement of birds off the islands and secondarily curb onward travel for birds intercepted at the port in Manado, a main shipping hub. Confiscated birds, usually smuggled in plastic bottles, need immediate veterinary attention and will be triaged at holding aviaries. This approach streamlines their release, eliminating the need for prolonged quarantine at Tasikoki WRC and expediting their return to the wild. To track potential recurrence of trapping, birds intercepted from trade will be ringed for identification. In the second phase of this project, WPT’s team plans to include international ports in the Philippines, which will address the global trade of this species.
A total of 137 Red-and-blue Lories have been confiscated and received by official facilities In North Sulawesi from 2021 to 2024. This includes recent spikes of 93 birds in 2023 and continued seizures in 2024. Birds at Tasikoki in 2025 are to be transferred to a captive breeding facility, the Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark in Java.
IUCN/CITES Status: Endangered / Appendix I
Population: 2400-8400 mature individuals, rapidly decreasing. Nominate of species possibly extinct on Sangihe.
Threats: This species has a restricted range. Habitat loss and overexploitation for trade have caused serious declines. Other potential threats include use of pesticides and disease transmission from captive to wild birds.
Range: Native to Sangihe, Talaud and Nanusa Islands, Indonesia. Nominate on Sangihe likely extinct.
Natural history: Red-and-blue Lories are found in forest and cultivated areas up to 1250 m (4100 ft). Their diet includes coconut, and the fruit and nectar of various trees. Insects are also taken. They are most commonly seen flying in groups of up to 8 birds. Large, very vocal numbers gather together to roost.
