IBAMA PRESS RELEASE: September 22, 2002

Editor's Note and Background Information: 

This press release from IBAMA that notified of the arrival of the female Spix's macaw from Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain. This was actually her return to Brazil after having spent seven years at Loro Parque in an unsuccessful attempt to breed her. Of course this was never mentioned in either the IBAMA or the Loro Parque press releases. More information about her history can be obtained in the following Editor's Note and Background Information. Needless to say, this is a critically important bird as she is a potential founder to the captive population and one of the last surviving wild-caught birds. She is also over 24 years of age, one of the oldest birds in the captive population. This is a last effort to breed her. 

Therefore, it was with considerable shock that I read that IBAMA was obviously staging a major "media event" upon her arrival. Certainly having the press cover the event is important for the program and for public access. However, after a trip of over twenty four hours to actually hold a media event at the facility that she will be housed is troubling. The transfer of birds for the purposes of breeding program on an international level is critically important to the survival of this species, but, at the same time, all safeguards must be maintained to keep from risking loosing the bird to undue stress. 

Unfortunately, it appears that the transfer of this bird, although for breeding purposes was designed as a media event. The fact that it was the 'cause celebre' at the Loro Parque's International Parrot Convention was certainly a planned event. Her transfer to Brazil was timed to coincide with this convention, despite the fact that she should have been transferred months earlier in time for her to adjust to the new climate and the start of the breeding season. The proposal for transfer was first made in February of 2001, but was initially opposed by W. Kiessling, Loro Parque's owner. IBAMA finally made the recommendation in November 2001 despite having received the final proposal from the studbook keeper in April of 2001. However, the bird was not transferred until September 2002, basically missing two potential breeding seasons (usually September through January). The previous female that was paired with this male was already on eggs by this time in September of 2000! 

Another very troubling precedent that has now been set is that the exact location and address of the facility where the Spix's macaws are held was widely distributed and even posted on the IBAMA web site! Considering the great potential for theft this is in my opinion an absolutely reckless position. Although many people are aware of its location, to distribute it in such a public manner opens the possibility of someone deciding that they will either "liberate" them or try to make some money as they are so valuable. Under no circumstances should the locations and the birds held there be made available to the general public (That is also why the studbook should never be publicly distributed. It would give potential thieves a potential "shopping list" of the birds held at each location.)

It is also interesting to note the tone of the press release towards the birds that are held privately in the international collections. It states "The experience represents a chance of amplifying the the genetic bank and increasing the reduced population of the 54 Spix's macaws that remain. These are, in the majority held captive in foreign countries." Although true that this is a chance to increase the population, certainly it needs to state that the population increased from a low of 11 birds, not that is a "reduced " population". It is also true that the "majority are held captive in foreign countries", it misses the point that all except for one have been captive-bred there as well! Amazing what one can do with a play on words. Unfortunately, this is the message that the Brazilian press is receiving, a slight alteration of the facts that appears planned. 

It is clear that at least in this case, public relations have been deemed more important that the species security and reproductive biology. 

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Spix's Macaw arrives in Brazil next Wednesday to try at pairing

Arrival will be on 25/9, 14:30hs, International Airport of Guararapes in Recife

 

A female Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) will arrive in Brazil next Wednesday, 25/9, yielded by the Loro Foundation Park, of Tenerife, Spain, for the attempt of pairing it with a male of its species that lives in the Criadouro Conservacionista Chaparral, in Recife. The experience represents a chance of amplifying the the genetic bank and increasing the reduced population of the 54 Spix's macaws that remain. These are, in the majority held captive in foreign countries. (There are no more examples of the Spix's macaws free in nature. The last wild survivor of this species disappeared two years ago in the hinterland of Bahia, the endemic region of the Spix's macaw.) After a passage of twenty four hours, the bird will be disembarked in the International Airport of the Guararapes to 14:30hs (Flight 2344/Varig). From the airport, the Spix's macaw will be taken immediately to the facility where its future partner is located. At 15:00 hours a press conference will be held to the collective press on the Program for the Recovery of the Spix's Macaw at the facility. For Press Information: Jaime Gesisky- phone: 61 9976 1595/316 1015/1019.

 

Arrival of the Spix's macaw to Brazil - Press Access:

Date: 25/9 at 14:30 hours at the International Airport of Guararapes- Recife/PE

Arrival on Varig flight 2344 /Domestic Arrival

In this stage, images of the landing will only be permitted from the public view at the airport and of the animal inside of the box which will be transported by the biologist Carlos Bianchi of IBAMA. From the airport, the Spix's macaw will be transferred to the vehicle that will take it to the Criadouro Chaparral. (Address deleted by Editor) in Recife.  

There will be a collective press conference and then photos of the female in her new house will be liberated (allowed). Attention: Those that want to antecipate the images of the facility will be able to do so at 14:00 hours in the facility.  For this, they must look for for the IBAMA Press Contact, Jaime Gesisky, who will be in the location to greet the press. 

Translated from the Portuguese by N. Schischakin

Ararinha-azul chega ao Brasil na próxima quarta-feira para tentativa de pareamento

Desembarque será dia 25/9, 14:30hs, Aeroporto Internacional dos Guararapes/Recife)

 

Chega ao Brasil na próxima quarta-feira, 25/9, a fêmea de ararinha-azul (Cyanopsitta spixii) cedida pela Fundação Loro Parque, de Tenerife, Espanha, para a tentativa de pareamento com um macho de sua espécie que vive no Criadouro Conservacionista Chaparral, em Recife. A experiência representa uma chance de ampliação do banco genético e aumento da reduzida população das 54 ararinhas-azuis restantes e que estão, em sua maioria, cativas em países estrangeiros. (Não existem mais exemplares da ararinha livres na natureza. O último sobrevivente selvagem dessa espécie desapareceu há dois anos no sertão da Bahia, região endêmica da ararinha-azul). Após um percurso de vinte e quatro horas, a ave será desembarcada no Aeroporto Internacional dos Guararapes às 14:30hs (Vôo 2344/Varig). Do aeroporto, a ararinha será levada imediatamente até o criadouro, onde se encontra o futuro companheiro. Às 15 horas será concedida uma entrevista coletiva à Imprensa sobre o Programa de Recuperação da Ararinha Azul. Informações para a Imprensa: Jaime Gesisky- fone: 61 9976 1595/ 316 1015/1019.

 

Chegada da ararinha-azul ao Brasil – Acesso para a Imprensa

Dia: 25/9 – 14:30hs - Aeroporto Internacional dos Guararapes- Recife/PE

Chegada do vôo Varig 2344 /Desembarque doméstico.

Nessa etapa, serão permitidas somente imagens do desembarque através do mirante do aeroporto e do animal dentro da caixa onde estará sendo transportado pelo biólogo Carlos Bianchi/Ibama. Do saguão, a ararinha será conduzida até o veículo que a levará para o Criadouro Cultural e Científico Chaparral – XXX  – XXXX – XXXX - XXX  – Recife.

 

Lá, haverá uma coletiva e, em seguida, serão liberadas imagens da fêmea na nova casa.

Atenção: Os veículos que quiserem antecipar imagens do viveiro só com o macho poderão fazê-lo a partir das 14 horas no criadouro. Para isso, devem procurar pelo Assessor de Imprensa do Ibama: Jaime Gesisky, que estará no local para recepcionar a Imprensa.