From January to the end of April this year, a total of 2,105 birds have been imported into the Maldives, according to data from the Ministry.

The Ministry's records show that these birds arrived in 13 separate shipments. Of these, one shipment—comprising five birds—was brought in in violation of existing import regulations.

In recent years, the trade and ownership of various bird species have been steadily increasing in the Maldives. A growing number of people are keeping birds as pets, with all such species being imported from abroad, as the country does not have native populations of these exotic birds.

The Ministry emphasized that strict regulations govern the importation of birds to ensure animal welfare, public health, and environmental safety. However, it has observed that some individuals and entities continue to bypass these rules.

Authorities continue to monitor and enforce compliance to ensure that all bird imports meet the required legal and health standards.