The species of green macaw that only exists in captivity is about to be bred and released into the wild.
Brazil, Germany and Belgium are planning to revive the Macaw Spix, which is believed to have disappeared completely from the wild, Brazilian Environment Minister Edson Duarte said on June 24. Dozens of captive animals in Europe are expected to be shipped to Brazil in the first quarter of 2019, according to AFP.
The spix macaw, the scientific name is Cyanopsitta spixii, is native to northeastern Brazil. They were last discovered in the wild in 1990 and can now only be found in captivity in Europe. This rare parrot is said to be extinct in the wild according to the Association for the Conservation of Endangered Parrots (ACTP).
About fifty Spix blue macaws in captivity will be transferred to a sanctuary of more than 290,000 square meters in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. Here they are bred until they reach a population large enough to be able to survive and thrive in the wild. The first individuals are expected to be released into the wild in 2021.
Habitat destruction and illegal hunting and trade are the main reasons that bring this species of parrot to the brink of extinction. According to ACTP, there are currently only 158 animals in captivity in the world.
