Two Spix’s macaws prepare for life in the wild

The last known Spix's macaw in the wild disappeared in 2000, and now 93 birds of this species exist in breeding centres around the globe. Image by ACTPA pair of Spix’s macaws, captive-bred in Germany, could be released into their natural habitat in Brazil by 2021

If Rio 2 provided a macaw’s eye view of the world, this is the story of two extremely endangered real life Spix’s macaws — which are extinct in the wild — ready to make their way to their Brazilian habitat in the not too distant future, thanks to a conservation programme.

Carla and Tiago, two Spix’s macaws hatched at the breeding centre at Schöneiche, in Brandenburg, Germany, and named after the film’s heroes, have been flown to Sao Paulo from Berlin. They will be reared at a special facility till they are ready for release into a suitable area in northeast Brazil by 2021. 

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Qatar efforts give hope to rare parrot species

Daniel Neumann performing artificial insemination in a Spix’s macaw at AWWP.Pioneering efforts by Qatar’s Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation to conserve the extinct-in-the-wild Spix’s macaw have achieved a key milestone with the world’s first artificial insemination in the parrot species native to Brazil, under a partnership with a German firm.

Founded by Sheikh Saoud bin Mohamed bin Ali al-Thani, AWWP, which has been a champion in Spix’s macaw conservation for over a decade, holds over 77% (64 out of 83) of the world population of the bird and is actively involved in grassroots conservation in its home country.Given that a narrow genetic pool is one of the biggest problems for the worldwide breeding programme, as it causes suboptimal fertility in the population, researchers from AWWP together with Parrot Reproduction Consulting from Germany decided to help the species through artificial insemination.

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The Illegal Parrot Trade

Golden conure (Guaruba guarouba), photo: Steve Bailey

Did you know that President William McKinley had a parrot named “Washington Post?” The parrot trend has certainly persisted through time—there are more than 40 million kept as pets in the U.S. alone. While it makes sense that these intelligent and bejeweled animals would make excellent pets, it’s anything but sensible when the illegal animal trade threatens biodiversity and accelerates extinction.

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Qatari sheik takes endangered bird species under his wing

In Qatar, Ryan Watson, blue macaw coordinartor for al-Wabra Wildlife Preservation, watches a young Spix's macaw named Jewel in the facility's nursery. There are just 76 Spix's macaws left on Earth, all in captivity. Lindsay Borthwick / For The Washington Post

AL-SHEEHANIYA, Qatar — Cobalt-plumed and flapping, Jewel, a young Spix’s macaw, hops into a plastic bowl. She’s well trained in the routine. Her handler, Ryan Watson, sets the bowl on a scale. He’s pleased. The 4-month-old parrot is growing.

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Baby chick helping to bring world’s rarest parrot back from extinction

A Spix’s Macaw chick enjoys a nap. The species has almost vanished from the wild (Pictures: News Team)The world’s rarest parrot is being brought back from the verge of extinction – helped by the arrival of this healthy chick.

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