- Title: Hard to feed the birds! Palestinian parrot breeder struggles amid pandemic
- Date: 3rd September 2020
- Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 2, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN PARROT BREEDER, NASHAT ETMAIZE, TALKING TO PARROT, PARROT SAYING (Arabic): "HELLO" PARROT AT SCENE ETMAIZE FEEDING PARROTS VARIOUS OF PARROT EATING NUT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PARROT BREEDER, NASHAT ETMAIZE, SAYING: "Almost everyone was affected by the coronavirus in general. The biggest problem we face is that people are going through economic hardships, this is our big obstacle and it led to huge drop in sales." ETMAIZE TAKING PARROT OUT OF CAGE VARIOUS OF ETMAIZE PETTING PARROT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PARROT BREEDER, NASHAT ETMAIZE, SAYING: "I started (breeding parrots) as a hobby, this is my hobby and I love it. But I also sell birds when they are young, it's good business." PARROT EATING NUT ETMAIZE PLAYING WITH PARROT PARROT PLAYING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PARROT BREEDER, NASHAT ETMAIZE, SAYING: "The veterinarians here are unfortunately more experienced in treating livestock and other animals but not birds. Unfortunately it is hard to find a veterinarian who can help in treating birds, maybe this is the biggest problem for bird breeders in general." VARIOUS OF ETMAIZE PETTING PARROTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PARROTS BREEDER, NASHAT ETMAIZE, SAYING: "Their (parrots) food is very expensive, as you saw I buy bananas and boxes of apples, nuts, for them. I go to shops and purchase nuts for thousands (of shekels)." ETMAIZE FEEDING PARROTS PARROT AT SCENE ETMAIZE PETTING PARROT
- Embargoed: 17th September 2020 14:32
- Keywords: COVID-19. coronavirus Hebron Palestinians West Bank animals economy pandemic parrots
- Location: HEBRON, WEST BANK
- City: HEBRON, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Middle East,Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVA001CU4VK9H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Palestinian parrot breeder said his business was dealt a tough blow after the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the West Bank.
Nashat Etmaize has been caring for parrots for more than 15 years, and currently owns over 60 brightly coloured parrots in his farm in a village near the West Bank city of Hebron.
Etmaize said financial difficulties that accompanied the spread of the virus meant people had less disposable income to spend on pets.
Etmaize said he used to sell around 15 parrots a month before the pandemic, but now he can barely sell two a month.
The breeder added that feeding the animals is expensive, but he still loved caring for them.
Health officials announced that 596 new cases of coronavirus were registered on Thursday (September 3) in the Palestinian territories. Total number of infections reached 31,929 cases including 189 deaths.
(Production: Yosri Al-Jamal, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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