ABOUT

Program: The Kiwa Centre for Parrot Conservation and Welfare

About

The Kiwa Centre in the United Kingdom is a long-term safe haven for parrots rescued from trade and poor welfare conditions. It boasts spacious flights, expert care and enrichment for the birds.

The facility was born of a need to rescue a companion macaw and over 170 others that were living in small cages in dark, unclean conditions with no ventilation. Some were disabled; many were struggling to survive. Their main rescuer and sponsor, whose macaw was being housed there, became deeply concerned for the birds and knew he needed to act urgently to save them. After his visit to the old building he reached out to the World Parrot Trust with the idea of rescuing them and building a long-term facility.

Actions and History

The World Parrot Trust has led several key initiatives at the Kiwa Centre to improve parrot welfare and conservation, including:

Rescue and rehabilitation of confiscated parrots
Providing emergency care, long-term rehabilitation, and sanctuary for birds rescued from trafficking, neglect, or cruelty.
Development of a purpose-built welfare facility
Constructing spacious aviaries with natural enrichment, quarantine and veterinary care zones, greenhouse-grown food plants, and biosecurity measures to support parrot health and recovery.
Creation of education and outreach programs
Launching ambassador bird initiatives and adoption programs to engage the public and promote long-term support for parrot welfare.
Support for repatriation and reintroduction efforts
Partnering with local and international organisations to return rehabilitated African Grey Parrots to the wild, and participating in breeding-for-release programs.
Establishment of a European rescue and training hub
Serving as a vital UK/EU base for future confiscations, offering expertise, capacity building, and training in rescue, care, and parrot welfare best practices.

The WPT team began an adoption program to support the birds’ care, and the team at Kiwa built a greenhouse that will provide food plants and foraging browse for the birds. This holistic program ensures that the birds receive optimal care long-term.