How to surrender a parrot or macaw

Where to surrender your parrot or macaw?

In Colombia wildlife belongs to the State. Only environmental authorities can receive a rescued animal and decide its fate. Fundación Loros does not receive parrots directly from individuals nor do home pickups — we only receive animals that the regional corporations forward to us.

This guide helps you reach the correct environmental authority in your area:

1. If it is an emergency (injured, struck by a vehicle, blatant captivity) → call the 123 line of the National Police.
2. If you are in Bolívar (Cartagena, Villanueva, Turbaco, Santa Rosa, Arjona…) → CAV-EPA Cartagena or CARDIQUE.
3. If you are in any other department → the Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR) or Urban Environmental Authority (AAU) for your jurisdiction. The national directory is below.

Fundación Loros works under agreements with several corporations, but the final decision about the animal's destination is always made by the environmental authority, based on the animal's state, each center's specialty and the jurisdiction where it was received.

Bolívar · official handover points

Cartagena, Villanueva and surroundings

If you live in Bolívar, these are the two official handover points for wildlife. Fundación Loros only receives animals when CARDIQUE or EPA Cartagena forwards them — we do not receive directly from individuals nor do home pickups.

If you live in Cartagena, call CAV-EPA first. If you live in any other municipality of Bolívar, call CARDIQUE first. Either channel may end, when applicable, in a coordinated forwarding to our sanctuary.

National directory

Rest of Colombia

If you are outside Bolívar, the environmental authority for your jurisdiction is the first channel. Call 123 if it is urgent; otherwise contact the CAR or AAU of your department.

National lines

Fundación Loros is not on this directory because by law it is not a direct handover point. If your parrot's context warrants reaching our reserve, the environmental authority (CARDIQUE in Bolívar, others in their jurisdictions) will manage the forwarding.

What about parrots that can never return to the forest?

Some parrots arrive so damaged — physically, emotionally, or after years of humanization — that releasing them would be a death sentence. We keep those birds only if they serve a function in our model: they form reference flocks for parrots in rehabilitation, participate in non-invasive research, live in semi-freedom within the reserve, or become silent teachers for our visitors — telling, through their mere presence, the story of the illegal trade, abuse, or neglect that could have been prevented.

But we are not a sanctuary for parrots caged for life. When an animal cannot have any form of freedom — not even semi-freedom — and would require permanent confinement with intensive clinical care, an authorized zoo may be a better option. And often it is the best option for the animal itself: living with others of its species, in a safe environment, with proper facilities and veterinary care, can be a more dignified life than what we could offer.

Our bylaws are clear: when an individual cannot be released, we first assess whether another authorized center can provide conditions equal to or better than ours. We don't accumulate animals; we care for individuals who have a path forward.

Indefinite captivity without ecological, educational, or scientific function is not an acceptable outcome.
— Estatutos Fundación Loros, Artículo 7

Why can't we accept parrots directly from private individuals?

It's a legal matter

In Colombia, wildlife belongs to the State. Only environmental authorities can determine the fate of a rescued animal. Fundación Loros has no legal authority to authorize transfers — we can only receive animals referred by environmental corporations, with authorization from CARDIQUE.

The corporations have priority

Many corporations are overwhelmed: they have more parrots than they can manage. Those animals need us most, which is why they come first in our intake capacity.

Our capacity is limited

Each parrot requires specialized care, adequate space, and time. Many individuals take not weeks but months or years to release, and in the meantime they need flight aviaries, food, veterinary attention, and integration into flocks. Each spot ties up resources for a significant period — which is why we only take in animals for whom we can do serious work.

Our area of influence

We work in the department of Bolívar, with presence in:

Cartagena · Villanueva · Santa Rosa de Lima · Santa Catalina · Clemencia · Zipacoa · Bayunca · Arroyo Grande · San Estanislao · Turbaco · Arjona · Cañaveral.

We want to grow and reach more territories, but for now we must focus where we can generate real impact.

Before handing over your parrot

To help your parrot arrive in the best possible condition and improve its chances of recovery, we recommend:

• Feed it a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the days before drop-off — mango, papaya, banana, guava, carrot, squash. Avoid feeding it exclusively seeds or processed human food.
• Clean, fresh water available at all times.
• Transport it in a ventilated, dark box or crate with a non-slip base — a towel works. Darkness calms it; light causes stress.
• If you know its history — how long it has been in captivity, what it eats, whether it has been sick, whether it was rescued from somewhere — write it down and hand it over with the animal. That information is invaluable to whoever receives it.