On Tue, 19 Nov 1996, Don Baccus wrote:

>
> Lock 'em up, throw away the kay - GOOD JOB! Check it out:
> ============================================================
> November 19, 1996 Patricia Fisher 202-208-5634
>
> KINGPIN OF PARROT SMUGGLING RING
> SENTENCED TO NEARLY 7 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE
>
>
> On November 18, a Federal court in Chicago sentenced Tony Silva,
> an internationally recognized expert and outspoken protector of
> exotic birds, to nearly 7 years of imprisonment without parole
> for leading an international parrot smuggling conspiracy and a
> related income tax violation.
>

While I applaud the sentencing (if only the same could happen to
poachers), I must admit that I had the urge to dump out all my military
gear and stuff my seabag full of cockatoos when leaving Australia. The
base we
were stationed at was plagued by flocks of hundreds of white and pink (and
NOISY-don't take nightshift, that's my advice) cockatoos. It was odd;
they were as common as starlings, but all I could see was the pet shop
price tags...:) Fortunately, my good nature (and desire to not be
court-martialed) won out. :)

-Pat
scott931 at uidaho.edu