New Taipei promotes pet bird registration

新北市推廣寵物鳥登記

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei is encouraging bird owners to register their pets and take steps to prevent escapes after the city reported a sharp increase in missing birds this year.

The New Taipei Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office said Thursday is National Pet Bird Day. It used this opportunity to offer the first 500 people who complete registration for a non-dog or cat pet to receive a NT$300 (US$9.40) voucher, which can be used at four major convenience store chains, per a press release.

As of the end of August, APHIO received reports of 66 missing parrots, about twice the number recorded during the same period last year. The missing birds included lorikeets, cockatiels, and macaws.

Whenever a pet bird is delivered to the office, information about the bird is posted on its website for 14 days in an effort to locate its owner. Birds that are not reclaimed are placed with Taiwan Bird Rescue Association and are made available for adoption. New Taipei said it monitors the care of birds placed with foster organizations.

New Taipei APHIO veterinarians urged prospective owners to understand the lifespan and care requirements of parrots before acquiring one. Some larger parrots can live for decades, per the press release. The office said parrots are intelligent and capable of learning through observation and imitation.

New Taipei has promoted non-dog and cat pet registration since 2025. The program covers birds and other special pets, with registration intended to improve identification and help reunite lost animals with their owners.

The city said responsible ownership should be viewed as a long-term commitment and urged owners not to abandon their pets. People who find an injured or distressed pet bird can contact the animal protection authorities' 24-hour rescue hotline at 1959 or (02) 2959-6353.