Preserving The Wild Parrot In The Amazon
Wild parrots are a part of the natural environment in the Amazon. Before Congress passed the Wild Bird Conservation Act in 1992, making it illegal to import birds caught in the wild into the United States, several people living in the Amazon made a living by capturing the wild parrots and then bringing them into the United States where they were sold as pets.
One of the concerns is that the numbers of the wild parrot flocks in South America are steadily decreasing, if appropriate steps aren't taken there is a real risk that there won't be any flocks of wild parrots left in the Amazon.
Sustainable Forestry Saves Habitats
In the Amazon the biggest threat to the survival of the wild parrot isn't natural predators, but rather deforestation. Although it is possible to log and still preserve the natural environment for the several different species of wild parrots that call the Amazon rainforest home, the clear cutting that is taking place has to stop. Rather then going into the rainforest and clear cutting steps to educate the South American loggers in sustainable forestry have to be taken. Sustainable forestry education allows logging in the rainforest to continue, while preserving the natural landscape for the wild parrots and maintaining the integrity of the rainforest.
Reintroduction Of Parrots Into The Wild
One of the best ways to restore the numbers of the wild parrot is to reintroduce ones that have been bred in captivity. The most successful example of reintroduction of captive bred birds into the wild is the California condor. At one point there were only 22 condors still living in the world, all of them in captivity. Through careful breeding and with a great deal of planning several young condors were raised in captivity and where eventually released into the wild. The program was so successful that there are now 147 Condors successfully living in the wild. Several similar programs have been implemented to preserve the number of parrots in the wild.
One of the most important things to consider when you are setting up an organization that will reintroduce parrots into the wild is to not let the numbers get as dangerously low as the California condor. The chances of success increase if there are still wild parrots of the same species living and thriving in the wild. You captive bred bird has a better chance of survival if it is able to integrate itself into an established flock.
