Fifty eggs suspected to be those of endangered parrots were intercepted at South Africa's main airport in Johannesburg last Thursday – and some of them have now hatched.

A 50-year-old Thai national was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle them in a "homemade incubator bag" carried as hand luggage, according to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

Many of the rescued eggs have successfully hatched, with the chicks now receiving "intensive" care to "maximise their chances of survival", it added.

If convicted, the suspected wildlife trafficker faces a fine of up to 10m rand ($626,000, £461,000) or up to 10 years in prison, or both.

Initial investigations suggest the eggs belong to a parrot species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

The arrest followed a joint operation by the DFFE, the Green Scorpions – a specialised environmental enforcement unit – and various divisions of the police.

Environment Minister David Maynier has congratulated all the agencies involved, saying "illegal wildlife trafficking can only be challenged by a co-ordinated defence of our natural heritage".

He particularly thanked the dedicated staff at the National Zoological Garden in the capital, Pretoria, "who have been working tirelessly to incubate the seized eggs and provide specialised care to the hatchlings".

Last Thursday's arrest follows that of a 23-year-old Thai citizen in July, also caught at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, who was attempting to smuggle 418 parrot eggs.

The arrests highlighted the growing sophistication of transnational wildlife trafficking networks and reinforced "the importance of co-ordinated, intelligence-led law enforcement efforts", the DFFE said.

The illegal collection and trafficking of parrot eggs posed "a serious threat to wild bird populations and animal welfare", it added.

Officials explained that such eggs were often smuggled in improvised incubators and in conditions that endangered the welfare of developing embryos and hatchlings.

Wildlife trafficking remains a major threat in South Africa, one of the world's most biodiverse countries, with criminal networks frequently targeting animals such as elephants and pangolins, for sale on the international black market.

To combat the threat, the country adopted a new strategy six years ago to strengthen collaboration between government institutions, law enforcement agencies, conservation authorities, customs officials, prosecutors and international partners to dismantle criminal networks involved in the illicit wildlife trade.

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