Nov. 18, 1996: A bird smuggler is sentenced to prison

Tuesday 18 November 2008

On Nov. 18, 1996, Tony Silva, a well-known expert and protector of exotic birds, was sentenced to seven years in prison for devising and carrying out an illegal parrot-smuggling operation. The case shocked the conservationists and zoologists throughout the world who knew Silva as a devoted bird lover and advocate for the protection of wildlife. He was arrested for a smuggling operation involving more than 100 hyacinth macaws, a rare and endangered parrot. During the operation, many of the birds died. In addition to the prison sentence, Silva was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service.