WORLD PARROT TRUST PRESS RELEASE: 22 DECEMBER 2002  

Editor's Note and Background Information: 

The World Parrot Trust was the organization that was contacted by the individual that discovered the Spix's macaw as a pet in a house in Denver and the group that made the initial contacts with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. That is commendable and we congratulate them for this effort.  We also wish to congratulate the US Fish and Wildlife Service for their willingness to expedite the permitting process to achieve this result. 

This discovery is extremely important as it is the first Spix's macaw to be "found" that is outside of the original birds (and their descendants) that became part of the Spix's macaw program initiated by the now disbanded Committee for the Recovery of the Spix's Macaw, formed by IBAMA in 1990. Those birds, although privately owned, were part of the breeding program. However, as many birds were rumored to be illegally held, an amnesty offer was designed to address exactly this type of situation where a bird is maintained "underground". Unfortunately not a single individual took advantage of the amnesty offer and this is the first bird in that category to have been discovered.  

It is tragic that this bird could not have been incorporated into the original breeding program and spent most of its life as a pet. Demographic data on the Spix's macaw shows that of the older birds that have died, did so in the 23 and older year range. As this is a very tame bird that has been kept with a companion amazon for many years, it is critical that this bird is paired up as soon as possible in the possible event that he breeds. It is clear that its health situation and potential as a breeder needs to be evaluated so that it can be paired an appropriate reproductive age female with whom he can bond. However, despite notices to the contrary, there is no appropriate female to pair him with at this time in the Brazilian program at this time unless they break up existing pairings. 

A concern is that the press release is quite inflammatory in some of its allegations. The statement that "several governments having turned a blind eye to the illegal activities of their citizens" as that is a very serious accusation to make. As these birds are recognized as legal by the respective governments and by the Brazilian government as they were part of their sanctioned breeding program for many years. Brazil recognized that the birds are privately owned. There have also been numerous exchanges including 3 captive-bred Spix's macaws (1 female and 2 males) donated to Brazil from Birds International, Inc. Brazil has also sent a very old wild-caught male to the Philippines in a last attempt to breed him. An accusation of "illegal" activities not based in any facts is irresponsible. 

It is interesting that this press release attacks all of the private breeders (including Loro Parque which gave up the ownership of their birds to Brazil) for their lack of scientific credentials, despite the fact that the success of the breeding program has been in the Philippines and Switzerland! The data is quite clear. Please see the following paper for additional information and history on this effort: "Captive Management and Conservation Programs for Parrots: Can Public and Private Sector Collaboration Work?". 

It is also of note that this press release speaks about the research involved in attempting to determine that it was a male. This shows a definite and very problematic lack of avicultural knowledge about basic avicultural techniques. This is now an established technique that can be done by any avian DNA sexing laboratory in the country for a small fee. The technique was actually developed by Dr. Griffiths of Oxford University to sex the last wild Spix's macaw through molted feathers as he could not be captured. (Griffiths R & Tiwari B (1995) Nature, 375:454). 

Certainly it is apparent that the bird has now become such a part of a publicity campaign to the extent that despite a plane trip (in the cabin) from Denver to Miami, then from Miami to Sao Paulo, this bird was then "presented" to the media for photo opportunities and a press conference. Certainly this is something that would have never been allowed in the past when much younger and healthier Spix's macaws were transferred to Brazil to avoid possible stress. It was also surprising to see the very small size of the carrier in which the bird was transported for this very long voyage from his home of over twenty five years to a completely new and alien situation.  

Therefore what does the future hold for this important bird? Certainly it is our hope that the Brazilian wildlife authorities will see that the survival of the species is more important than the politics and that public-private sector collaboration will be a much more effective conservation tool for the future. 

Comments? Send an e-mail to the Editor

 

World Parrot Trust Press Release and Photograph:

Going Home:  World's Rarest Parrot Discovered in Colorado Living Room: Repatriated to Breeding Program in Brazil after 25 Years Underground

A Spix's Macaw, the world's rarest parrot, made a long flight home today from Colorado to Brazil, 25 years after being taken from the wild, smuggled to Europe, and subsequently to the USA.  With luck, this avian "Rip Van Winkle" will provide the genetic shot-in-the-arm that the species needs to bring it back from the brink of extinction.  The iridescent indigo-blue macaw with a long sweeping tail is a unique bird.  Never common, the Spix's became extinct in the wild two years ago following decades of decline from trapping and habitat loss.

After losing its Spix's mate more than 20 years ago, this bird was left on the current owner's doorstep by its smuggler-owner, who subsequently vanished.  The bird -- dubbed "Presley" -- was then kept as a household pet, spending decades paired with a female Yellow-naped Amazon.  The amazon died this past summer prompting the owner to seek help from the World Parrot Trust in returning the Spix's Macaw back with its own kind and back to its home country.  Recognizing the value of this bird to conservation, the Trust confirmed the identity of the bird and contacted the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Brazil's equivalent agency IBAMA.  The three organizations have worked swiftly to orchestrate the appropriate permits, health checks, and other necessary steps to return the bird to a breeding facility in Brazil.  After months of intensive care preparing the bird for travel and breeding, Presley is now homeward bound.

On arrival in Brazil, the bird will be paired with an appropriate mate, housed in an ideal climate, and fed a diet closely matching this species' diet in the wild.  Because virtually all the remaining captive Spix's Macaws are extremely close relatives, this bird has the exciting potential to make a unique genetic contribution to the recovery of this species, quite possibly saving the bird from extinction.  Although Presley is at least 25 years old, as a male macaw, he may have many breeding years left.

In compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the San Diego Zoo's Center For Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) received samples to help determine the sex of this Spix's macaw.  For comparison, samples of known-gender related species were contributed by the Parrot Society of Los Angeles.  The San Diego Zoo's Genetic Division, led by Oliver Ryder, head geneticist, used cutting-edge techniques from the feathers and half a teaspoon of blood of the Spix's macaw to determine that the bird is a male. This conclusion allowed the breeding program to formulate a plan on relocating the male as a contribution to the species survival.  "We're honored to participate in the efforts to save the Spix's macaw," said Ryder. "Our efforts in this project combined with the addition of the samples to our Frozen Zoo collection will help preserve them for future conservation purposes."

Unlike any other animal species alive today, the fate of the Spix's Macaw now rests largely in the hands of a few private collectors in the Philippines, Switzerland, Qatar, and the Canary Islands, who operate with few if any scientific or conservation credentials, and who paid enormous sums for these birds as they disappeared from the wild in the last few decades.  The last 20 years has brought about a series of well-intentioned meetings, amnesties for Spix's owners, and discussions of recovery plans -- in the end, far more conversation than conservation.  Effective action on the bird's behalf has been derailed time and again by ownership and management issues, and ultimately by several governments having turned a blind eye to the illegal activities of their citizens. 

With the remarkably smooth cooperation of the United States and Brazilian Governments, this rapid transfer of the bird to its homeland may set a positive precedent for individuals and governments aiding the recovery of other endangered birds and mammals.

Speaking on the recent re-emergence and transfer to Brazil, James Gilardi, Ph.D., director of the World Parrot Trust said, "Of  the tens of millions of parrots in cages around the world, we hear rumors about rare birds like this occasionally, but they seldom lead to discoveries as critically important as this Spix's Macaw.  We're enormously pleased by the cooperation of the owner and the respective governments, and we hope this bird's homecoming will mark the start of a renewed spirit of cooperation on behalf of the Spix's recovery from extinction.

Mike Reynolds, founder and chairman of the World Parrot Trust, commented that the Trust had a good track record for locating Spix's Macaws.  "In 1990 we funded the expedition that found the last remaining Spix's in the wild.  Now we have been instrumental in finding and returning to Brazil this genetically invaluable bird.  We will continue to do all we can  to help this fascinating parrot species survive."

For more information, please contact the World Parrot Trust, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the San Diego Zoo at the following locations:

World Parrot Trust

James Gilardi, Ph.D. Director

USA Phone/Fax 530 756 6340 Pacific Standard Time

UK Phone (01736) 753 365, Fax (01736) 756438

Gilardi@worldparrottrust.org

http://www.worldparrottrust.org

 

US Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Office of Law Enforcement
Sandra Cleva

Phone:  703 358 1949  Fax:  703 358 1947

San Diego Zoo Public Relations  619 685 329

Additional Background Facts:

The Spix's Macaw is the only species in its genus Cyanopsitta, and one of only four species of "blue macaws."  Of the other three, the Glaucous Macaw has not been reliably sighted in over 50 years despite systematic searches and is presumed extinct.  The Lear's Macaw is designated "Critical," and numbers in the low hundreds in the wild.  The largest and best known of the four, the Hyacinth is now "Endangered" by the IUCN's Red List.  Efforts to halt the trade in these species and to promote their recovery in the wild are ongoing in their native range in Brazil.