Man detained for purchasing rare parrot could face prison

A man living in Chongming District has been detained for raising a parrot which is an endangered species, the district's police said on Tuesday.

Police discovered a grey parrot, later confirmed to be a Psittacus erithacus from Africa, at the man’s home on August 15.

Police said they received clues that the man, surnamed Shi, purchased the parrot on taobao.com.

Chongming police

Chongming police

Shi has allegedly admitted that he paid about 5,000 yuan (US$730) for the young bird, having heard that once it reached maturity it could be sold for over 10,000 yuan.

Shi could face the criminal charge of illegally purchasing endangered wildlife and, if convicted, could face up to five years in prison, according to China’s criminal law.