Fearing disease outbreaks, Madrid is culling monk parrots in the city.

The monk parrot, a small, brightly colored bird with a silver crest on its head, is native to Argentina, is common in South America, and is quite aggressive, potentially competing with other birds for food and breaking branches from trees to build its nest.

These parrots were originally kept as pets until authorities banned their keeping in captivity eight years ago. Since then, due to favorable living conditions and a lack of natural predators, monk parrots have multiplied rapidly, flying in large flocks over the city and building enormous nests in trees. These nests significantly impact public infrastructure and greenery in the city, as well as posing a danger to people below. Furthermore, monk parrots can carry and transmit parrot flu, various types of avian flu, and salmonella bacteria to humans.

In response to this situation, the city council announced a plan to reduce the number of monk parrots, aiming to balance the ecosystem and prevent risks to public health. An official statement from Madrid said the city had outlined a plan to humanely "control the parrot population," for example by preventing the hatching of eggs, but did not provide a specific number.

According to Spanish law, monk parrots are classified as an invasive species in their natural habitat.

Huong Thao