Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 12:54

Exit. The Papegaaienpark Veldhoven, a sanctuary for unwanted or homeless pet birds and other exotic homeless birds and animals. Photo by Arthur de Wolf.The largest parrot rescue centre on this planet, NOP in Veldhoven in the Netherlands, has filed for bankruptcy. The move comes after many years of poor governance. Trouble started 4 years ago when consumers rights television show “Tros Radar” exposed the disproportionately high death rate the rescue centre and bird park experiences. For many years people, that for some reason could no longer take care of their animals, have been donating their pets to an institute that was basically a death house for parrots.

In the last couple of years staff members have been found guilty of trading in the birds that the government had placed in the custody of NOP after they were confiscated by costumes. Literally returning smuggled and illegally traded birds back to the smugglers.

NOP staff came together to discuss recent developments (Image: Femke de Jong)

Recently former members of staff accused management, including founder Tonnie van Meegen of fraud with entrance fees and the sale of birdseeds at the park. Tonnie van Meegen died last year after a prolonged sickbed.

Libéma had offered to take over the park and merge it with their zoo in the region but backed away from the deal after disagreement with the board of directors.

Earlier this winter the park called for donations to keep the park afloat. This gave the park a bit of a breather. From this weekend on however the park was closed to the public and today bankruptcy was declared.

Amongst great public concern for the welfare of the remaining birds curator Dagmar Dielissen today could not say what will happen with the park or its many thousands habitants or if a restart is in the cards. There is sufficient fuel and food in the park for the coming days and the team of dedicated volunteers has agreed to carry on with the care of the birds.

Volunteers however report that many birds have been moved out of the park in recent days.

The national food and goods authority (NVWA) has been at the park on a daily basis for the last couple of weeks to guarantee the welfare of the animal collection.