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South America

Colombia

Colombia is the most biodiverse country in the world by species per square kilometre — and one of the most active source countries for trafficked parrots, primates and reptiles…

Two wild scarlet macaws with brilliant red, blue and yellow plumage perched on a mossy branch in Colombian Andean cloud forest

Colombia is a South American country at the top of global biodiversity rankings; WARN's planned work focuses on parrot and macaw trafficking interdiction and soft-release, primate sanctuary support, and pink river dolphin and Amazonian aquatic-mammal triage in partnership with established Colombian rescue organisations.

Key Facts About Colombia

  • Most biodiverse country in the world by species per square kilometre.
  • Major source country for trafficked parrots and primates.
  • Home to scarlet and military macaws, the spectacled (Andean) bear, jaguars and titi monkeys.
  • Pink river dolphin populations in the Putumayo and Amazon are increasingly stressed.
  • Our planned Colombia work funds macaw triage and large soft-release aviaries.
  • Colombia ranks among the most biodiverse countries per square kilometre on earth.
  • Scarlet and military macaws are heavily trafficked despite Least Concern listing.

What is the wildlife situation in Colombia?

Colombia spans the Amazon basin, the Andes and two coastlines. The Amazon basin and the Pacific lowlands are major sources of trafficked exotic birds and primates. Domestic markets in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín continue to drive the live-pet trade.

What is WARN preparing to do in Colombia?

Funding parrot triage, large soft-release aviaries, intelligence-sharing with enforcement authorities investigating the export pipeline, and supporting restrictions on the domestic sale of native wildlife. The parrot appeal is WARN's primary South America focus.

Why Colombia and Peru together

The Amazon basin does not respect borders. Many of the species and many of the trafficking routes span both countries. Our planned South America operations are designed to interoperate.

Parrot trafficking pipelines

Birds move from forest capture through middlemen to Bogotá, Cali and Medellín buyers and export routes. Early interception and aviary rehabilitation prevent irreversible imprinting.

Andean bear coexistence

Spectacled bears raid crops in Andean cloud forest. Humane conflict response — electric fencing, deterrents, community education — keeps bears alive and farmers supported.

Threats to Wildlife in Colombia

Exotic pet trade in parrots and primates

Bushmeat hunting

Habitat loss

Mercury pollution in Amazon tributaries

What WARN Funds in Colombia

Our Colombia programme will fund parrot triage, large soft-release aviaries, and intelligence-sharing with enforcement authorities investigating the export pipeline. We also plan to support new restrictions on the domestic sale of native wildlife.

Key Species in Colombia

Least Concern (but heavily trafficked)

Scarlet macaw

Read more

Vulnerable

Spectacled (Andean) bear

Near Threatened

Jaguar

Read more

Vulnerable / Endangered

Titi monkey (multiple species)

Endangered

Pink river dolphin

Read more

Colombia FAQ

What is the main wildlife trafficking problem in Colombia?
By volume, the parrot and macaw trade. By high-value items, jaguar teeth and skins. See our jaguar trade briefing for the trafficking pipeline.
Are pink river dolphins endangered?
Yes. The IUCN lists them as Endangered, with population declines driven by mercury contamination, hydropower disruption and fisheries bycatch.
Why is Colombia a parrot priority?
By trafficking volume, parrots and macaws are Colombia's dominant wildlife-welfare crisis. WARN's parrot appeal centres on Colombia, Brazil and Indonesia.
Does WARN fund jaguar rescue in Colombia?
Yes, through the jaguar appeal — forest corridors, coexistence and rescue across Brazil and Colombia.
What are pink river dolphins facing?
Endangered Amazon river dolphins face mercury contamination, hydropower disruption and fisheries bycatch in Putumayo and Amazon tributaries shared with Peru.
How does Colombia connect to Peru operations?
Trafficking routes and species ranges cross the border. Planned South America operations share intelligence, sanctuary capacity and training.
Does WARN run Andean bear sanctuaries?
No. WARN grants to established Colombian partners for bear rescue and rehabilitation. The Andean bears appeal funds coexistence and rescue in Colombia.
Can habitat gifts protect Colombian forest?
Yes — the habitats appeal funds land protection and corridor restoration across the partner network, including Colombian cloud forest and Amazon buffer zones.

Rescue Guides for Colombia

Focused pages for the specific animal rescue searches connected to Colombia, from trafficking response to sanctuary and veterinary care.

Colombia · Illegal bird trade

Parrot Trafficking in Colombia

Parrot trafficking in Colombia targets chicks and adult birds for the illegal pet trade; rescue depends on fast triage, quarantine, flight rehabilitation and carefully managed soft release.

Wildlife trafficking · Release method

Parrot Soft Release

Parrot soft release is a gradual return to the wild where rescued birds rebuild flight, social and foraging skills before release with monitoring and temporary support.

UK donors · Gift Aid explainer

Gift Aid and International Donations for UK Donors

Gift Aid is only available to UK registered charities. WARN is a registered global not-for-profit, not a charity, so it cannot claim Gift Aid — but UK donors can still give effectively to partner-led animal rescue abroad with full receipt and transparency.

US donors · Tax status explainer

Is My Donation to WARN Tax-Deductible in the US?

WARN is a UK-registered global not-for-profit (Community Interest Company), not a US 501(c)(3) public charity. US donors can still give in USD with full receipts, but gifts are generally not tax-deductible on US federal returns — check your tax adviser for your situation.

UK donors · Gift adoption intent

Animal Charity Gift Adoption in the UK

A UK animal charity gift adoption through WARN is a symbolic monthly or one-off donation allocated to a species rescue programme — dog, cat, elephant, tiger, orangutan, macaw, pangolin or sea turtle from £5/month, with a certificate suitable for birthdays and occasions. It is not ownership of a real animal, and Gift Aid does not apply.

UK donors · Symbolic adoption

Symbolic Animal Adoption UK Charity

Symbolic animal adoption through WARN is a UK-friendly monthly or one-off donation from £5/month directed to a species rescue programme abroad — not ownership of an individual animal, and not Gift Aid eligible because WARN is a registered global not-for-profit, not a UK charity.

UK donors · International giving

Donate to an Animal Charity Abroad from the UK

UK donors can donate to animal rescue abroad through WARN in GBP with full receipts — gifts fund vetted partner-led CNVR, wildlife rescue and working-animal programmes across a 17-country network, without Gift Aid because WARN is a registered global not-for-profit, not a UK charity.

Anti-trafficking · Wildlife crime

Donate to Stop Wildlife Trafficking

You can donate to stop wildlife trafficking through WARN — gifts fund partner-led customs detection support, live-seizure veterinary triage, quarantine and sanctuary placement for pangolins, parrots, big cats and exotic pets across the 17-country partner network.

Habitat · Forest corridors

Donate to Rainforest Habitat Protection

You can donate to rainforest habitat protection through WARN at /appeals/habitats — gifts fund partner-led forest corridor protection, anti-deforestation patrols and community stewardship in Borneo for orangutans and jaguars, and in the Amazon and Colombia for jaguars and co-occurring species.

Donor intent · Sanctuary giving

Donate to an Animal Sanctuary

Sanctuary donations typically fund daily care, veterinary bills and enclosure costs at a specific facility — WARN does not operate its own sanctuaries but makes grants to established partner sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres across 17 countries, channelling your gift through /donate or species appeals at /appeals.

Donor intent · Wildlife giving

Wildlife Charity Donation

Wildlife charity donations through WARN fund partner-led anti-poaching, seizure triage, rehabilitation and habitat-linked rescue for pangolins, tigers, gorillas, orangutans, elephants and more — give at /appeals or /donate with full receipts, knowing WARN is a UK CIC global not-for-profit grant network, not a registered charity.

Occasion giving · Animal lovers

Charity Gift for an Animal Lover

A charity gift for an animal lover through WARN is symbolic adoption from £5/month at /adopt — choose dog, cat, elephant, tiger, orangutan, macaw, pangolin or sea turtle, with a gift certificate emailed on request and honest programme framing that funds partner-led rescue abroad.

Occasion giving · Christmas

Christmas Animal Charity Gift

A Christmas animal charity gift through WARN is symbolic adoption from £5/month at /adopt — choose a species programme, complete checkout, email WARN for a holiday gift certificate, with honest framing that funds partner-led rescue abroad rather than a pet under the tree.

UK donors · Macaw sponsorship

Sponsor a Macaw from the UK

You can sponsor a macaw from the UK through WARN from £5/month at /adopt/macaw — sponsorship funds seizure triage, aviary rehabilitation and customs interdiction for parrots rescued from the illegal pet trade in Colombia and Brazil, not ownership of a named individual bird.

US donors · Macaw sponsorship

Sponsor a Macaw from the United States

You can sponsor a macaw from the US through WARN from $5/month at /adopt/macaw — sponsorship funds seizure triage, aviary rehabilitation and customs interdiction in Colombia and Brazil, not ownership of a named individual bird.

UK donors · Symbolic macaw adoption

Adopt a Macaw from the UK

You can adopt a macaw from the UK through WARN's symbolic adoption from £5/month at /adopt/macaw — your gift funds seizure triage, aviary rehabilitation and soft release for parrots rescued from the illegal trade in Colombia and Brazil, not ownership of a named individual bird.

US donors · Symbolic macaw adoption

Adopt a Macaw from the United States

You can adopt a macaw from the US through WARN's symbolic adoption from $5/month at /adopt/macaw — your gift funds seizure triage and rehabilitation for parrots rescued from the illegal trade in Colombia and Brazil, not ownership of a named individual bird.

Help the Animals of Colombia

Your donation funds the rescue teams, sanctuaries, and programmes protecting wildlife and street animals across Colombia.

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