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She has never received any formal training in animal care or zoo
science.
Commencement of the Breeding Activity
In 1989, petitioners began breeding birds. Petitioners did
not have any employment history or business experience in
breeding or selling animals.2 Petitioners did not have a formal
business plan, nor did they prepare any economic projections for
their animal breeding operation.3
Dr. Knudsen became interested in breeding birds after
learning that the United States had concluded treaties banning
the importation of tropical birds. Because of the ban on
importation, petitioners anticipated favorable market conditions
for tropical birds. Petitioners hoped the bird breeding business
would be a source of income after Dr. Knudsen retired from his
medical practice.
Before acquiring any birds for breeding, Dr. Knudsen learned
about an evolving practice of hand feeding parrots. According to
the information he acquired, hand feeding the parrots made them
more marketable as pets. Petitioners attended a bird breeding
seminar in California on hand feeding and raising young parrots.
2Dr. Knudsen testified that he had some limited experience
in the breeding of small birds. The record does not reflect
whether Dr. Knudsen ever sold any of these birds.
3Dr. Knudsen testified that he was “very interested” in bird
breeding, and “Whether or not it was economically feasible, * * *
only time would tell.”
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Last modified: March 27, 2008