In a remarkable turn of events, the Spix's macaw, a species once considered extinct in the wild, has reached a significant milestone by breeding successfully in its natural habitat. The last known wild Spix's nest was in 1986, 37 years ago, before the Spix's macaw became extinct in the wild. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conservation efforts to revive this critically endangered species.
The Spix’s macaws' wild nesting result represents the ultimate goal of the project - the establishment of a “breeding” population of Spix’s macaws in the wild.
A short recap
The journey to this achievement was arduous and began in 2000 when the last known wild Spix's macaw vanished, rumored to have fallen victim to power lines. This incident sent shockwaves through the bird conservation community, prompting a united effort. Collaborative endeavors between private breeders, zoos, and the Brazilian government aimed to bring together the remaining captive Spix's macaws to create a population that could one day be reintroduced into the wild.
Private aviculturists and scientists, armed with decades of captive breeding and management expertise, tirelessly worked to transform what once seemed an impossible dream into a reality. Their dedication and unwavering commitment to the cause made it possible to bring the Spix's macaws back from the brink of extinction.
In 2022, ACTP and their partners pulled off the miraculously successful release of Spix’s macaws back into their former wild Caatinga habitat. The Spix’s macaw was no longer extinct in the wild. But there was still a goal that everyone was waiting to see achieved. The big question was: Would they breed in the wild? Well, we have the answer - yes!
Today, we can proudly announce that this goal has been realized. A pair of Spix's macaws, a male released in June and a female in the December 2022 release, have hatched two chicks in their chosen nest. One of the artificial nests strapped high in a Caraibeira tree. The initial clutch of eggs proved infertile, but the pair's determination prevailed, and the second clutch contained two fertile eggs, leading to the hatching of two healthy chicks.
These are young first-time parents, and the fact that they incubated and hatched the chicks on their first attempt was great news. Then the instinct to feed the chicks kicked in and this was yet another milestone that they overcame.
It is important to note that this is a critically sensitive and dangerous time for the chicks, and we are awaiting with bated breath, their fledgling, but the fact that they have overcome the initial challenges is very promising for the species' future.
This achievement stands as a testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts and the resilience of a species on the brink of extinction. It serves as a reminder of the critical role of captive breeding programs in saving endangered wildlife. We express our gratitude to the partners and supporters who have stood by this remarkable journey. This historic breeding event provides hope and inspiration for the conservation of endangered species worldwide. The images and videos shared with the public capture this remarkable moment and will undoubtedly inspire many to join the cause of safeguarding our planet's biodiversity.
The Spix's Macaw Release Project is only possible thanks to the many years of support from our partners in Germany and in Brazil, such as 🇧🇷 ICMBio Bragança/PA 🇧🇪 Pairi Daiza Foundation 🇶🇦 Spix Macaw (AWWP) 🇩🇪 BlueSky Global 🇩🇪 Museum für Naturkunde Berlin 🇩🇪 Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz e.V. - ZGAP 🇧🇷 NuTrópica Nutrição Especializada 🇩🇪 Grumbach Brutgeräte 🇩🇪 Arndt-Verlag 🇩🇪 Wachtel-Shop.com 🇩🇪 birdfarm büngerheide 🇺🇸 Parrots International …and many, many more. ❤️ Many thanks also to those partners and supporters involved in the project, which we haven't mentioned here!
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