Cocrico, a national pest

Trinidad and Tobago, my country has one national flag, one national anthem, one national flower but two national birds, why?

In addition, one of the national birds, the Cocrico is an agricultural pest. It has contributed in no small measure to the frustration of farmers and quite possibly to the decline of agriculture in Tobago. Not only are farmers’ crops being attacked but so too are the fruits grown in many residential backyards.

Being a national bird, the Cocrico is protected by law and cannot be hunted or killed and as a result the population and the habitat of this destructive bird is increasing.

The Cocrico should not be a national bird and the population of this agricultural pest should be greatly reduced as soon as possible.