Efforts to revive extinct parrot species in the wild

The long-tailed blue parrot that only exists in captivity is about to be bred and released into the wild.

Brazil, Germany and Belgium plan to revive the long-tailed blue parrot Spix is ​​thought to have disappeared completely outside the wild, Brazilian Environment Minister Edson Duarte said on June 24. Dozens of captive individuals in Europe are expected to move to Brazil in the first quarter of 2019, according to AFP.

Green long-tailed macaw Spix.(Photo: Parrots Daily News).

The long-tailed blue parrot Spix , scientific name Cyanopsitta spixii, originated in northeastern Brazil. They were last discovered in the natural environment in 1990 and are currently only found in some captivity in Europe. This rare parrot is thought to be extinct in the wild according to the Association of Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP).

About 50 long-tailed blue parrot Spix will be transferred to a protected area larger than 290,000 square meters in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Here, they are bred until they reach a sufficient number of populations to survive and grow in the wild. The first individuals are expected to be released into the natural environment by 2021.

Habitat is devastated and illegal hunting and trading are the main reasons for pushing this parrot to the brink of extinction. According to ACTP, there are only 158 children living in captivity worldwide.