Birds International Inc (BII) is a 100% Filipino owned private breeding farm located in Quezon City (Metro Manila), Philippines on an area of app. 60,000 square meters. Currently, BII keeps more than 7000 parrots and other birds. In 1967, Mr. Antonio de Dios started a hobby of collecting exotic species of birds. In February 1975, he founded BII. It is engaged in the sustainable captive breeding of both endemic and exotic species of endangered parrots.
The founder stocks of the collection were acquired in accordance with the existing Philippine laws during the time of acquisition in the years 1967 to 1983. In 1981, the Philippines became a member of the CITES. The Philippine CITES Management Authority acknowledges that BII's founder stocks were legally acquired and are classified as Pre-CITES Convention stocks.
The wide range of other parrot species being successfully bred at BII shall be continuously offered to satisfy the demand of the pet industry, breeders, zoos and other scientific institutions. Additionally, BII offers captive-bred hornbills and toucans.
BII has produced third generation going to fourth generation on most of the species in its breeding program, including appendix I species.
One of the most notable species successfully bred at BII is the now extinct in the wild Spix’s macaw. From 1982-1999 a total of thirty nine (39) captive bred progenies were produced. On March 14, 1992 a female was transferred to Dr. Hämmerli of Switzerland in exchange for a male. This female replaced his productive hen which died and this replacement female became productive as well. This was followed by a similar exchange of a female with a male on October 27, 1994. These birds were the base for the significant captive population of Spix’s Macaws in Switzerland.
The reintroduction of a female to pair with the lone male in the wild was made possible by the transfer of a BII female to Mauricio dos Santos on October 08, 1995 which replaced the female Mauricio donated to the Brazil government for the aforementioned reintroduction. On October 25, 1996 two males were donated to Sao Paulo Zoo, also in Brazil - the only range State of the Spix’s Macaw. One of the males transferred to Sao Paulo Zoo was transferred to Loro Parque in Spain and has proven productive. It has formed the nucleus of Loro Parque’s Spix’s production.
In 2005, the bird flu pandemic hit Asia and to protect this very important species, founder Mr. Antonio de Dios decided to look for a safer haven for its remaining stock of 24 heads and entered into an agreement with Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar. The remaining stocks were transferred to Qatar and AWWP has successfully bred the birds as well.
Since 1988, I have been working for BII as consulting veterinarian for parrots (www.janeczek.de). I have introduced various new techniques and preventive programs to BII. Since 1991 I have been the European Representative responsible for all bird exports to/from Europe and some other countries.
Video: Birds International, Inc., Avicultural Park and Research Centre (BII)
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