Indian Ringneck Invasive Species Permit:

Cheeky Beaks Rescue has been engaging in talks with AIS and Biosecurity in order to further educate ourselves about permitting requirements and to find the best solutions for our fosters and adopters of Rose-ringed Parakeets. We have established a productive working relationship with representatives of these departments, especially in Cape Town.

In 2014, the Department of Environmental Affairs declared Rose-ringed Parakeets (a.k.a. Indian Ringneck Parakeets) an invasive/alien/restricted species in South Africa under Category B. Escaped pets have proven to be quite hardy and have survived in the wild, flocking together and forming large feral colonies all over the country that compete with indigenous birds for resources and territories and have been known to spread contagions such as Pscittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) amongst wild bird populations.

What are the implications of the Department’s decision to declare then an invasive species? This means that any individual who owns, breeds or transports these parrots are required by law to apply for a permit from the Department.

We aim to raise awareness about this relatively new law and assist current and future owners with applying for their permits. Due to the immense backlog of applications, however, the Department has been known to take up to 18 months to issue the documentation to successful applicants.

Cheeky Beaks requires our followers to present us with a valid permit or proof that an application for a permit has been submitted and paid for before we can consider any candidates for the adoption of Indian Ringneck Parakeets in our system. Our fosters are also required to have their permits up to date and valid in order to be able to assist with fostering and rehabilitating this special species.

Important to note:

• There are different kinds of permits – for owning a bird as a pet, for breeding and for transport. You will most likely only need to apply for the ownership permit.
• If you are a pet owner, you will need to apply for a permit for each individual bird in your household. The permits are tied to ring numbers or microchip numbers.
• If you have had a pet Indian Ringneck Parakeet since before this legislation was instated (2014), you still need to apply for a permit.
• The ownership permit is valid for 5 years.
• The cost of the ownership permit is R100 per bird (it is not mentioned anywhere on the application form). It costs R50 to renew the permit after the 5-year period has elapsed.
• You will preferably need to be able to provide a ring number on your permit application. If your parrot is not ringed, please speak to your regional branch of AIS (Alien and Invasive Species – Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment) and confirm whether a microchip is acceptable. It is possible to have an adult parrot ringed, but you will have to speak to an avian vet about this, as it is not always advisable to do so and can cause safety hazards. Consult with an avian vet about your specific case if you are required to have your parrot ringed.
• You will preferably need to have your parrot’s wings trimmed (hard clipped) by an avian vet or professionally trained groomer before AIS sends out a representative to come and do an inspection of your property. This only applies to indoor companion birds.
• If you have birds in an outdoor aviary, you will need to have a double safety door installed on your aviary.

More information and the permit application form can be found at the link below:

https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/forms/permitapplication_restrictedactivities_alienandlistedinvasivespecies.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact the relevant department directly via email at AISPermits@environment.gov.za. Visit their website for further reading.

For specific enquiries, especially if you are experiencing issues with regards to providing a ring number (if your parrot is not ringed), please request to speak to Mr. Nelukalo from Biosecurity.