Indian Ringneck Parrot (Psittacula krameri)

​Date Published: April 2011

Assessment Summary

The Indian ringneck parrot (Psittacula krameri) is a pale yellow-green parrot with a distinguishing long tail which lives in tropical and subtropical lightly wooded habitats in Africa and Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds, fruit, flowers and nectar. The behavioural flexibility of the species, its generalist feeding ecology and its ability to withstand temperate climatic conditions have contributed to the successful establishment of feral populations in many countries.

The Indian ringneck parrot is the most widely introduced parrot in the world, with populations established on five continents. Only Australia and Antarctica remain uncolonized, although in Western Australia in 2005-2007 several Indian ringneck parrots were removed from the wild that were thought to have survived in the wild for at least four years. Self-sustaining feral populations of Indian ringneck parrot occur in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Japan, Singapore and several island groups including the Hawaiian, Canary, Andaman and Maldive islands.

The Indian ringneck parrot is not globally threatened and is listed as least concern by the IUCN. It is listed by Ghana in Appendix III to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and export and import of this species is therefore subject to regulation under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

In Tasmania the Indian ringneck parrot is currently listed as a controlled animal under the Nature Conservation Act 2002.

The natural distribution of the Indian ringneck parrot includes areas similar in climate to Tasmania and as this species is very adaptable there is potential for this species to establish in Tasmania. If the Indian ringneck parrot established in Tasmania it is likely to compete with the green rosella (Platycercus caledonicus), eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius), galah (Cacatua roseicapilla), sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galarita) and yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), as well as the introduced little and long-billed corellas (Cacatua sanguine and Cacatua tenuirostris) for food and nest hollows. There is also some potential for competition with the blue-winged parrot (Neophema chrystoma), orange bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), musk lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna) and swift parrot (Lathamus discolour) for food and other resources.

The establishment of the Indian ringneck parrot in Tasmania also has the potential for high impact on the agricultural industries such as cereal grains, oilseeds, grain legumes, fruit, nuts and flowers as the species is known to cause significant damage to these commodities in other countries.

The risk assessment determined that the Indian ringneck parrot is not dangerous to humans, has a serious establishment risk in Tasmania and a serious consequence if establishment should occur.  By taking these factors into account, the assessment concluded that the risk posed by importing Indian ringneck parrot​ into Tasmania is extreme and import be prohibited.​

Assessment Documentation

  Indian Ringneck Parrot (Psittacula krameri)   (583Kb)

Contact

Wildlife Services

GPO Box 44,
HOBART, TAS, 7001.