Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) organized a Regional Workshop on "Illegal Wild Bird Trade" at Hotel Ambassador on 24 May 2010. The main objective of the workshop was to share the findings of the study carried on wild bird trade in Nepal and India among the relevant government agencies and other conservation partners. The study was supported by World Parrot Trust, US and WWF Nepal. This is for the first time such a workshop has been organized.

Programme started with the welcome speech by Mr. Shree Ram Subedi, President, Bird Conservation Nepal. In his welcome speech he stated that this is BCN's initiation and more study and research will be carried in future.

Mrs. Ishana Thapa, Conservation Officer of Bird Conservation Nepal highlighted on the ongoing bird trade issues in Nepal. Increasing use of birds by people for pets, meat and religious release purpose are main reasons fueling the wild bird trade in Nepal. The cage bird market in Nepal is dominated by parakeets, mynas and munias mostly traded from Patna and Calcutta via Raxual border. Most of the wild species traded for meat purpose like bunting, Kalij, partridges, quails, ducks are difficult to document. Hence population studies of the species on trade and strict law enforcement to control of the illegal wild bird trade is urgently needed for Nepal.