Lear’s Macaw Making a Remarkable Comeback

25/01/2007 00:00:00 New Survey Finds Species on Brink of Extinction Growing in Numbers – Now Up to 750 birds

July 2007. The numbers of Lear’s Macaws, one of the world’s most spectacular parrots, have increased to more than 750 birds thanks to the protection of the species’ primary breeding area in Brazil. In late 1980’s there were only 70 surviving the Lear’s Macaws left in the wild. ‘This is a remarkable success story – a species on the brink of extinction is now rebounding because its nesting grounds were protected,’ said Michael J. Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and co-author of A Guide to the Parrots of the World.

The survey of the Lear’s Macaw was undertaken by Fundação Biodiversitas at the Canudos Biological Station in Brazil, a reserve supported by ABC. 751 individuals were counted as they flew out of the canyons where they roost and nest to their licuri palm feeding areas.

Lears macaw habitat
The Lear’s Macaw is found only in the state of Bahia in north-eastern Brazil, where it nests on spectacular sandstone cliffs and feeds primarily on licuri palm nuts. The species is currently threatened by hunting and the illegal pet trade.

With the support of ABC, Biodiversitas has acquired properties to expand the Canudos Biological Station to a 3,600 acre nature reserve, a ten-fold increase from its original size. Currently, this represents the sole protected area for this Critically Endangered species. ‘The protection of such a vital site for the Lear’s Macaw, through the expansion of the Canudos Biological Station, is a huge step towards the preservation of the species,’ said Eduardo Figueiredo, Coordinator of the Biodiversitas Lear’s Macaw Conservation Program. ‘The growing population confirms how essential it is to protect an endangered species’ habitat.’

For 18 years, Biodiversitas has protected the Lear’s Macaw colony in the state of Bahia. Now the conservation group is implementing protective measures for the reserve, and aims to secure additional dry forest areas that are vital for the species feeding. In addition, the project involves extensive environmental education, through both ecotourism and improving pride and understanding of the natural ecosystem among local people.

Alliance for Zero Extinction
The Lear’s Macaw and the protection of its habitat are priorities for the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a global initiative that seeks to protect threatened species that depend on single sites for their survival. The goal of the Alliance is to create a front line of defence against extinction by eliminating threats and restoring habitat to allow species populations to rebound.

Fundacao Biodiversitas is a Brazilian non-profit, non-governmental environmental organization dedicated exclusively to the conservation of biodiversity, with an emphasis on threatened and endangered species.

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