Cyanopsitta Magazine.. - Loro Parque Fundación

Transcription

Nº 97 - 2010
The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación
LPF COMMITS € 880,000
FOR CONSERVATION IN 2011
OUR BREEDING
POPULATION
OF BLUE-THROATED MACAWS
“BABY BOOM”
IN LORO PARQUE
LP/SP NEWS
Nº. 97
the newSletter of loro Parque fundación
Message from the Founder
Index
Message from the founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Successful International Parrot Convention . . .3
LP/SP News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
LPF News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
News of the parrot collection . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Projects up-date: new projects . . . . . . . . . . .17
Grey-breasted Parakeet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Cyanopsitta is printed using environment friendly, recycled, woodfree coated paper: Symbol Freelife Satin©, FEDRIGONI©
Breeding stock of Blue-throated Macaws . . . .21
2
Cover photo:
Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
Editorial Office
Loro Parque S.A.
38400 Puerto de la Cruz
Tenerife, Islas Canarias. España
Tel.: + 34 922 374 081 - Fax: + 34 922 373 110
E-mail: loroparque@loroparque.com
lpf@loroparque-fundacion.org
Editorial Consultant
Rosemary Low
Editorial committee
Javier Almunia, Wolfgang Kiessling, Matthias
Reinschmidt, David Waugh, Rafael Zamora and
Vanessa Figueroa.
Visit our websites
www.loroparque-fundacion.org
www.loroparque.com
Membership
Become a member of Loro Parque Fundación to
support us in our activities. You will then receive
our trimestral newsletter Cyanopsitta, as well as
a supporter’s card permitting free entry to Loro
Parque during the validity of your membership
and a visit to our breeding centre. The current
annual membership fees are:
Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100,00€
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50,00€
Life member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1500,00€
Please send us your membership subscription by mail, fax or
e-mail, or call us, and we will sign you up immediately.
Bank Account
Banca March, Puerto de la Cruz
Account: 0061 0168 81 005034011-8
IBAN:ES40 0061 0168 8100 5034 0118
BIC:BMARES2M
People love to see baby animals, especially of wild species, and this
fascination with youngsters is for many reasons. For example, we can
immediately think of their appearance, their fragility and their playfulness.
Seeing baby animals also gives a strong signal that everything is as it should
be. If the environment of a species has all the important elements, the most
noticeable effect is the presence of babies, the continuation of breeding.
Wildlife parks like Loro Parque have the mission to contribute to sustainable
populations of wild species, especially those most threatened with extinction
in the wild. This means creating and maintaining the optimal environments in
which breeding can take place and baby animals can be born.
Loro Parque takes special care to provide the correct environments for its
animals, and every year we have thousands of animals born. Given that we
have the world’s largest parrot collection, logically many of the young animals
are parrots. However, there need be no doubt about the other species as
well because, as you can read in the pages of this magazine, they keep
producing babies. And sometimes they surprise us, as with the arrival of twin
Two-toed Sloths, and always they delight us, as with the first birth of an Orca
in our specialised facilities.
Naturally, because people are fascinated by baby animals, we want to
share our happiness and show them to the public. We want to share our
success in as many ways as possible, in magazines, on the radio, and on
the television of course. This is a key reason why for us the recent television
programmes of the German TV channel ARD are so important. They are a
way for people to step inside the world of Loro Parque and see the expertise
and commitment that results in lots of baby animals. Another important way
of sharing is through our International Parrot Congresses, and in September
this year we once again successfully celebrated the unique blend of learning
and relaxation.
Some of the presentations in the September convention were about the
conservation projects supported by the Loro Parque Fundación. We are
pulling species back from the edge of extinction, and we can see the
successes accumulating, but we also know that this takes time. Therefore
it is my pleasure to announce that the Loro Parque Fundación will continue
to support the conservation projects in 2011 with a record sum of about
US$1,150,000. Without doubt the Loro Parque Fundación leads the world in
the extent of support directed to parrot conservation projects, and without
doubt this is resulting in babies not just of parrots but of many other animals
as well. This level of activity would not be possible without the wonderful
help of all our supporters, and I take this opportunity to give my sincere
thanks, and to wish you peace and prosperity.
Banco Santander, Puerto de la Cruz
Account:0049 0290 37 2113529526
IBAN:ES46 0049 0290 3721 1352 9526
BIC:BSCHESMM
BBVA, Puerto de la Cruz
Account: 0182 5310 61 001635615-8
IBAN:ES85 0182 5310 61 0016356158
BIC:BBVAESMM
Legal deposit: TF-1643/2003
Wolfgang Kiessling
President, Loro Parque Fundación
Saving wildlife and habitatS
A very successful International Parrot Convention
At the end of September 2010, the VII International Parrot Convention was held in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, organised by Loro Parque
and the Loro Parque Fundación. Over 650 participants from more than 40 nations attended this event, still the leading global conference
to advance the welfare and conservation of parrots, and always with a social programme full of surprise and excitement. This year’s
internationally recognized speakers presented a varied and very interesting programme of lectures, translated simultaneously in German,
English, Spanish and French. We have received so much positive feedback from the participants that we can say without doubt that
the Convention was an unqualified success. As usual, Wolfgang Kiessling, President of Loro Parque and the Loro Parque Fundación,
inaugurated this year’s event at the opening cocktail at the Hotel Botánico.
the evening dinner at the Lago Martiánez
on the Puerto de la Cruz sea-front, where a
prize-winning Canarian carnival group put
on a wonderful display.
Participants relax during a break in the programme
On day one the keynote speaker, Dr. Franz
Robiller, gave a presentation about the life
of the great aviculturist Romuald Burkard,
who was a pioneer in many aspects of
bird breeding. Despite having to devote a
great deal of time to his business activities,
Dr. Burkard still managed many first
breedings of bird species. The next two
speakers, Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt and
Rafael Zamora of Loro Parque Fundación,
together brought aviculture into the presentday, with emphasis on innovations and
the breeding of rare parrot species. The
multiple innovations to successfully breed
15 Lear’s Macaws (Anodorhynchus leari)
were of particular interest, as was the
analysis showing how age affects the
breeding profile differently of different
genera. Dr Irene Pepperberg of Harvard
University followed with an absorbing
demonstration of her famous African Grey
Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) called Alex. With
full understanding of the English names,
Alex could count up to eight, could do small
sums and had a concept of zero. In fact, his
capabilities made everybody think again
about their parrots back at home.
From Costa Rica, Olivier Chassot spoke
about the conservation project of the
Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) in
A presentation in the auditorium
that country and adjoining Nicaragua.
Supported by the Loro Parque Fundación,
the project uses this species as a flagship
to promote a biological corridor crucial
for native forest protection. The following
colourful presentation of Trichoglossus
lories in Europe by Jos Hubers, showed
how only a few still have good captive
populations. The morning programme
was followed by the first afternoon visit by
participants to the parrot breeding centre
of the Loro Parque Fundación in La Vera,
where the majority of the parrot collection
is accommodated, and where a careful
arrangement allowed the viewing of Spix’s
Macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii) bred by the
LPF. An excellent first day was polished with
The first speaker on the second day was
Dr. Petra Wolf of the University of Hannover
who spoke about parrot nutrition. By
providing easy to understand information
based on solid science, she was able to
reassure breeders of the safest way to feed
their parrots, and at the same time she
exploded several traditional beliefs. Dr. Wolf
won the first speaker prize of 2,000 euros.
Next was Eric Antheunisse, who spoke
about his commercial breeding in the USA
of a variety of parrot species, including
large macaws. He described how the
design and management are streamlined
for efficient production, including the use of
domestic chickens for incubation of parrot
eggs, and also for pest control! Another
major project supported by the LPF was
described by its field coordinator, Mauricio
Herrera of Armonía. The conservation
programme for the Blue-throated Macaw
(Ara glaucogularis) of Bolivia shows how
the wild population is 350 birds or higher,
from a low of 36. Mauricio demonstrated a
native headdress made of artificial macaw
feathers, and was third prize-winning
speaker. In the following presentation,
Drs Roland y Julia Seitre did a doubleact, with Julia “interviewing” Roland about
their
photo-journalistic
assignments
around the world. Wonderful photographs
to publicise parrot conservation. To
complete the morning’s programme,
Juan Cornejo of Africam Safari, Mexico
and Texas A&M University spoke about
the breeding of two species very rare
in captivity, the Maroon-fronted Parrot
(Rhynchopsitta terrisi), which is now in
Loro Parque, and the Socorro Parakeet
(Aratinga brevipes). The latter species is
genetically limited in captivity, and the wild
population is very small.
The afternoon and evening were spent in
Siam Park, with use of all attractions, a
tasty barbeque, good band and excellent
fireworks and laser show.
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LP/SP NEWS
Wolfgang Kiessling closes the convention at the gala dinner
Lively evening entertainment
there. This conservation action has full
support from the local people, and the
birds are breeding successfully on Atiu. To
close the speaker programme, Dr. David
Waugh of LPF spoke about saving parrots
from extinction in the context of the projects
of LPF. Projects usually need to be longterm, but successes are multiplying, and
the more than US$10 million contributed to
date has been well invested.
The Convention was completed with the
Gala Dinner in the Hotel Botánico, which had
in attendance the President of the Canary
Islands’ Government, Paulino Rivero.
Naturally the occurrence of the Convention
also offered the perfect opportunity to visit
Loro Parque to enjoy all its attractions,
and to see the changes since 2006.
The participants remarked especially
favourably about the new lory enclosures
and the Katandra Treetops free-flight
aviary for Australian and Asian parrots
and other birds.
Christoph Kiessling presents the first prize to Dr Petra Wolf.
Heiner Müller of the LPF started the last
morning’s programme with his talk about
veterinary assistance for reproduction
problems, and the particularly interesting
possibilities for using artificial insemination.
Little is known about the keeping and
breeding of parrots in Russia and adjacent
countries, but we now know much more
from the talk of Dr Vladimir Ostapenko
of Moscow Zoo, including that 145 zoos
between them keep 116 different parrot
species. The second prize winner was
speaker Dr Yara Barros, who reviewed
the history of efforts to recover the Spix’s
Macaw, as well outlining what still must
be done. To date the LPF has contributed
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more than US$700,000, and remains
committed to the recovery effort for this
slow-breeding species. The following
topic was another commercial breeding
operation, but this time exclusively for
African Grey Parrots. Xavier Viader, owner
of the company Psittacus Catalonia,
described the meticulous attention to
detail, including the equatorial photoperiod
and the playback of forest sounds. The
penultimate speaker was Alan Lieberman
of the San Diego Zoo, who described the
translocation of Rimatara Lorikeets (Vini
kuhlii) from the island of Rimatara, French
Polynesia to Atiu in the Cook Islands, 200
years after the species was last recorded
Such a successful Convention was due to
the efforts of many people, and thanks to
everybody who decided to participate, the
speakers, the coordinators of the different
countries, the editors of the magazines
who gave publicity, as well as the local
authorities. Copies of the proceedings
of the Convention are available as a
book or CD, available by contacting the
LPF Secretary. For all those who could
not attend this time, or are ready to
return, please note the dates of the VIII
International Parrot Convention as Monday
22nd to Thursday 25th September 2014, in
Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
LP/SP NEWS
More than 53,000,000 viewers in Germany have enjoyed Tenerife through
life in Loro Parque
program, which was filmed entirely in Tenerife, has been broadcast
daily between September and November of this year, in prime time
on the first German TV Channel, also known as ARD. The viewer
figures have reached over 13% of audience share, excluding
the public in Austria and Switzerland, where the series was also
broadcast. This means a great promotion of Tenerife as a tourism
destination.
In this audiovisual project, in which the protagonists are the animals
and the daily happenings of a zoo, biologists, veterinarians and
keepers of the park were also involved. They have shown the
beauty and majesty of the animals, as well as the different day
to day activities of the park, combining these stories with the
landscapes of the island, its outstanding ecosystems and natural
parks, always emphasizing the wonderful climate of Tenerife.
More than 53,000,000 viewers in Germany have been able to visit
and enjoy the wonders of nature and landscapes of Tenerife through
the TV Series “Parrots, Palms and Company”, which reveals the life
of the animals of Loro Parque and the daily happenings behind
the scenes of the most recognized wildlife park in Spain. This TV
These 40 programmes, entirely recorded in high definition and with
the best technology, have brought considerable advertising and
promotion of the island, which if paid for would have cost over
12,000,000€. This television exposure has contributed to a big
media push of Tenerife as an excellent tourism destination, with
a good climate and eco-friendly, the key features that the German
public seeks in tourism.
Loro Parque expands its sloth family with two babies
team, is growing from day to day and is
beginning to observe its surroundings
curiously while it is being fed or weighed to
check its development.
Loro Parque is celebrating the extension
of its animal family with a unique event.
The pair of Two-toed sloths, which came
in 2007 from Italy to Loro Parque, has
produced young, and two sloth babies
were born! This birth has aroused the
curiosity and interest of biologists and
veterinarians worldwide, because no
similar case is known in any other zoo of
the world. The small mammals were born
in a tropical ecosystem that has been
created especially for this species, and this
unique event leaves no doubt about the
good conditions in which these animals
live.
The parents Bimba and Bianco, 4 and 5
years old, share the exhibition with one of
the young, which is being fed and cared
for by the mother, while the other young is
being reared by the veterinarian team of
Loro Parque. In this way, its welfare and
growth can be guaranteed until it reaches
the necessary independence to return to
the exhibition with the rest of the family.
In the exhibition there are also two Green
iguanas, 12 White-faced marmosets and
two pairs of Red-footed tortoises.
Both young were born very well developed,
strong and with open eyes, as well as with
fully developed teeth and claws. This
allows them to hold on in their natural
position, with the back to the ground.
The youngstergrowing with the mother
is beginning slowly to stretch its limbs
and loves the belly of its mother, while
she protects it always and prevents it
from falling to the ground. Meanwhile the
other young maintained by the veterinary
The Two-toed sloth (Cholopoepus
didactylus) has a quiet nature, is slow in
its movements, and is characterized by its
small, round and flat-topped head. It is also
an example that survival not only depends
on force and speed, because it survived its
huge relatives who became extinct 10,000
years ago. The length is between 41 and
74 centimeters and the body is covered
with long, thick and brown hair. They spend
most of their time hanging on trees, always
with the back to the ground.
The parents, who can live more than
20 years, come from an exhibition in the
province of Pavia in Italy, and feel very
comfortable in the climate of Tenerife, as
the island shares lots of similarities with
the tropical forests of South America.
This species is native to countries such
as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador,
Suriname and Peru. While the adults in
captivity eat leaves, fruits and seasonal
vegetables, and grain, and drink water,
the young need milk, which they suckle
several times a day during 6 to 15 minute
feeding sessions.
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LP/SP NEWS
A big bottle of milk for baby orca
An orca is born in Loro Parque
On October 13th, 2010, Loro Parque reported an exceptional event
with the birth of an orca in the OrcaOcean facilities. This is a major
milestone for the breeding programme and Loro Parque is proud
that reproduction has occurred, being the most important indicator
that confirms the welfare of animals in the facilities, created
especially for these marine mammals.
Kohana, a female aged 8 born in the parks of Sea World (San
Antonio), has given birth to her first calf, weighing 150 kilos and
after 4 hours of labor, druign which time it was constantly observed
and attended by the entire team of veterinarians, biologists, park
trainers and experts from the United States. Moments after birth,
the almost 2 meters long calf instinctively swam to the surface
for its first breath. However, possibly due to the youth of Kohana,
no link was established between the two, as often happens with
mothers in other animal species. In this regard, and given the risk
that this situation posed for the survival of the offspring, the experts
decided to intervene to complement the care of the mother in the
medical pool of the facility.
“It’s a very important day for all of us at Loro Parque, as this
birth backs-up the welfare that our animals enjoy,” said Javier
Almunia, PhD in marine science and deputy director of Loro
Parque Fundación. He explained that “the experience of handrearing of this species is scarce and presents many challenges to
be gradually overcome with the development of the animal.” For
their part, the veterinarians and trainers wisely await the little male’s
progress, since the first few weeks are crucial for the development
of the mammal, which starts life with a basic immune system and
therefore takes time to strengthen it.
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The moment of birth of the orca
This is the first birth of an Orca in the OrcaOcean facility,
opened in 2006 for “our very dear and beloved President,
Adam Martin”, recalled Wolfgang Kiessling with some emotion.
In these facilities four Orcas coexist, from the United States
where a total of 28 Orcas have been born within the world’s
most successful breeding programme (which includes this
birth), at Sea World. This exceptional case will provide valuable
scientific information and knowledge about breeding and care
of the newborn, which will benefit future specimens of this and
other cetacean species.
LP/SP NEWS
Baby Boom at Loro Parque with 2 new jaguars
The Loro Parque animal family is experiencing an authentic Baby
Boom, after the recent birth of two jaguar twins, which together
with other young animals, such as for example the orca baby and
the two-toed sloths, have become the central point for children and
adults. These attractive and inquisitive baby cats are the result of
the jaguar (Panthera onca) pair that Loro Parque formed in 2009
with a female coming from Germany. The two young are very similar
to their parents, in the striking colour and patterns that characterize
these animals. They are being fed by their mother, who dedicates
the whole day pampering and giving them attention.
The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and the third largest
worldwide, after the tiger and lion, and is classified in the IUCN Red
List as a “near threatened” species and with its number in decline.
Although this is a species which prefers to inhabit the dense
and humid forests, they also frequent a big variety of forested
or open lands, but always with the presence of water. The loss
and fragmentation of their habitat, the conflicts with ranchers and
farmers, coupled with the international trade (currently prohibited),
are the main threats for this feline.
Diverse and numerous species of water, land and air have filled
the nurseries of the park in the recent months, breeding being the
main indicator of the welfare that the animals enjoy in their different
ecosystems. This is so much the case, that the two jaguar cubs
add to other mammals also in luck, like the marmoset babies or
our very special sloths (the only twins in the zoo world), which our
keepers and veterinarians attend with great care.
The breeding station for birds of the Loro Parque Fundación also
has chicks of different and important species which are highly
endangered. This reserve gives them a real chance to survive, like
for example the Spix’s Macaw (totally extinct in the wild) or the
Lear’s Macaw, also seriously threatened. Similarly, in the coming
days we expect that more eggs of other species will hatch, and
all the visitors will be able to appreciate them in the Baby Station,
during feeding time.
The orca baby is the first born in Spain, and from day by day it is
growing more and more with the constant attention of the keepers
and veterinarian experts. For their part, Paul and Pedrito, as the
Facebook fans have affectionately named the two young sea lions,
are growing well and their keepers are surprised at their strength
and energy.
The authentic explosion of life in the past months has fulfilled the
expectations of the employees of Loro Parque, who dedicate their
time and affection to all the animals. They all experience great
satisfaction in helping to make them stronger and bigger. It is a
very rewarding work, and all the visitors who come each year to
Loro Parque can discover, learn and be truly excited by all the
different wonders of nature.
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LP/SP NEWS
Loro Parque awards the “Premio Gorila 2009” to the German TV Channel VOX
more than 1.000.000 viewers – to the
promotion of the island and the tourism
sector. The event was also attended by
numerous civil, military and ecclesiastical
personalities, as well as personalities
from the tourism sector such as Tour
Operators, Hotel Managers, Travel
Agencies and Media.
The “Premio Gorila” is a recognition
that Loro Parque has been awarding
to the most important contributer of
the year for effort and commitment to
the development of the sector, and the
application of responsible environmental
policy. This prize consists of a bronze
sculpture of a a gorilla, because this
animal represents loyality, strength and
fidelity.
Paulino Rivero, Jan Biekehör and Wolfgang Kiessling
Loro Parque has awarded the German
TV Channel VOX with the “Premio Gorila
2009”, in recognition of the support and
dedication provided by this TV Channel
in making the series “Menschen, Tiere
und Doktoren” (People, Animals and
Doctors), which has shown animal life
and landscapes of Tenerife during 200
chapters broadcast in Germany in 2008
and 2009. This event was held at the
headquarters of the Presidency of the
Canarian Government, in the presence of
the President, Paulino Rivero, the President
of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling and
the Executive Producer of the German
Channel, Jan Biekehör.
This prize, which is given annually,
recognizes the effort of this channel to
promote a good image of the island and
the activities of Loro Parque, elements
that contribute – in each chapter to
In previous editions, Loro Parque has
awarded the Tour Operator Iberostar,
and its President Miguel Fluxá received
the award in 2003. The following year the
award was for the group Neckermann
Thomas Cook AG, with the presence of
the General Manager Wolfgang Beeper.
Globalia – Travel Plan received the award
in 2005 and in 2006 TUI UK, its General
Manager David Harper attending the
official event. In 2007 the Touroperator TUI
Germany received this award, and in 2008
it was for the President of the Cabildo of
Tenerife, Ricardo Melchior, in recognition
of his dedication and advocacy for the
environment.
Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary receives a visit from Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn
Princess Sirindhorn meets staff of PKWS
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This year both Loro Parque and Phu
Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand
celebrate 38 years of existence. Two
years ago, the Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn of Thailand visited Tenerife
especially to inaugurate Siam Park, and
also to make a tour of Loro Parque to
discover its attractions. Included in the
tour was the breeding centre of Loro
Parque Fundación, where the Princess
also learned about the project of our
foundation to help protect Phu Khieo,
which began with the invitation of her
father, King Bhumibol, for our foundation
to become involved. To celebrate its 38th
birthday, in May the Princess visited Phu
Khieo, where she was able to experience
directly the activities that are taking place
within the project.
LPF NEWS
Protected areas reduce poverty in Thailand and Costa Rica
Protected areas are important for the conservation of biodiversity, including parrots. Many of the conservation projects of the Loro Parque
Fundación involve protected areas, not least in Thailand and Costa Rica. These projects not only protect the Grey-headed Parakeet
(Psittacula finschii) and the Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) respectively, but they also conserve entire ecological communities.
However, as global efforts to protect ecosystems expand, the socioeconomic impact of
protected areas on neighbouring human communities continues to be a source of intense
debate. Ecosystem protection limits agricultural development and exploitation of natural
resources. Therefore, opposition to protected areas is frequently based on the assumption
that they impose large economic costs and thus exacerbate local poverty. However,
protected areas can also generate economic benefits by supplying ecosystem services,
promoting tourism, and improving infrastructure in remote areas.
Thai farmer who benefits from the PKWS project
A recent study (Andam et al*) has used comprehensive national datasets to measure
socioeconomic outcomes, and used appropriate comparison groups of communities, to
estimate impacts of protected area systems on poverty in Costa Rica and Thailand. The
study has found that although communities near protected areas are substantially poorer
than national averages, comparison with appropriate communities far from protected
areas shows that differences in socioeconomic status are not due to the protected areas.
In contrast, the results of the study indicate that the net impact of ecosystem protection
alleviates poverty. Thus, these results suggest that protecting biodiversity can contribute
to both environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation, two of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals.
This study accords especially with the achievements of the project for the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in north-east Thailand, supported
by the Loro Parque Fundación since 1997, which not only protects a rich biodiversity but also improves the socio-economic situation of
the people living near the protected area.
*Andam, K.S., Ferraro, P.J., Sims, K.R.E., Healy, A. and Holland, M.B. (2010) Protected areas reduced poverty in Costa Rica and Thailand. PNAS 107 (22)
www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0914177107
Agreement on zero extinction at biodiversity conference in Japan
In October in Nagoya, Japan, a milestone agreement was reached by the representatives of 193 governments of countries which are
parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The conference of the parties agreed that by 2020 the extinction of known threatened
species will be prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, will be improved and sustained. Part of the
agreement is that the governments commit to increase to 17% the land surface of the Earth occupied by protected areas, 4% more than
the target until now. This gives the opportunity to include the highest priority areas not yet under protection.
The LPF Lear’s Macaw project occurs at an AZE site
To help the conference reach its
decision the Alliance for Zero Extinction
(AZE), of which the Loro Parque
Fundación is a member, presented
new data and a map that pinpoint 587
single sites where 920 of the world’s
most endangered wildlife species are
restricted. Together, these conservation
tools represent a straightforward means
to cost-effectively address the issue of
imminent and predictable species loss,
a central component of biodiversity
conservation. At the present time, only
half of the sites identified enjoy any
formal protection, and of those, half are
only partially protected. The countries
and big international donors such as
the Global Environment Facility and
the World Bank are expected to bear
most of the cost, but other donors such
as Loro Parque Fundación are also
contributing.
9
LPF NEWS
The AZE was established in 2000 to increase efforts to prevent the
imminent extinction of species by identifying and safeguarding the
places where species evaluated to be Endangered and Critically
Endangered in the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List of
Threatened Species, are restricted to single remaining sites. To
date, AZE has identified sites for mammals, birds, amphibians,
reptiles, conifers, and reef-building corals, providing a strategic
tool to defend against many of the most predictable species
losses. Country-based initiatives, representing partnerships of
government agencies and non-government organizations, have
been developed in Brazil and Colombia to accelerate the protection
of AZE sites. Protecting an AZE site can often prevent multiple
extinctions, since some of these sites host more than one highly
threatened species. Studies show that AZE sites are particularly
important for providing ecological services too, so their protection
brings an even wider range of benefits.
The countries with the most AZE sites are Mexico (68), Colombia
(46), Peru (34), Indonesia (31), Brazil (27), and China (23). However,
a large number of sites does not necessarily reflect a nation’s
environmental performance, because a high level of biodiversity,
such as in countries with many different eco-regions in a small
area, usually poses an extraordinary conservation challenge.
Through its direct support to protect threatened species of parrots,
the Loro Parque Fundación is contributing to the zero extinction
goal. As an example, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National
Natural Park in Colombia is the world’s fourth most important site
for AZE species (12), which includes the Critically Endangered
Santa Marta Parakeet Pyrrhura viridicata, the conservation of which
is being sustained by a partnership between Fundación ProAves
and the Loro Parque Fundación.
The LPF Red and blue Lory project occurred at an AZE site
The AZE website is: http://www.zeroextinction.org/index.htm
Loro Parque Fundación issues World Habitat Day appeal
On World Habitat Day, 4th October 2010, designated by the
United Nations, the Loro Parque Fundación issued an appeal
for urban environments to be improved for wildlife as well as for
humans. This year’s World Habitat Day was intended to remind
the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human
habitat, and to the basic right of all to have adequate shelter. To
create and maintain a sustainable urban world is without doubt a
major challenge, given that currently 55% of the world’s human
population lives in cities, with 85% predicted to live in urban areas
by the year 2050.
Thus, adequate planning is essential to ensure that the future urbandwellers do not become entirely disconnected from the natural world,
because its biological diversity is what will help to sustain these
urban conglomerations. Urban planners must use their maximum
creativity to include sufficient green spaces in urban developments,
where wild plants and animals can flourish, and where people
can enjoy this wildlife and gain spiritual renewal. Furthermore,
responsible and progressive wildlife parks like Loro Parque will have
an increasingly significant role to provide a “window onto nature”
for urbanites, with environmental education of younger people
assuming major importance. Also without doubt is that companion
animals, including pets of wild species such as parrots, will feature
strongly as part of the urban habitat for humans. Therefore, on World
Habitat Day 2010, the Loro Parque Fundación also made an appeal
for these animals to be cared for responsibly.
10
LPF NEWS
Big increase in the Yellow-eared Parrot population
Another young Yellow-eared Parrot to increase the population
The Yellow-eared parrot (Ognorhynchus
icterotis) population in the Department of
Tolima, Colombia has reached historically
high population levels with 727 individuals
following their most successful breeding
season with 291 chicks fledged from
131 nests. These data are evidence of a
significant increase in the population of
this species. This report comes from the
population census conducted in Tolima
in recent months, and after the IUCN
lowered the threat category of the Yelloweared Parrot from Critically Endangered
to Endangered in May. The continued
recovery of this species is due to the efforts
of Fundación ProAves, supported since
1999 by Loro Parque Fundación
Two more reserves join National Protected Area System
In order to strengthen the protection of each of its reserves, Fundación ProAves has worked to register every reserve with the Ministry of
Environment and the Administrative Unit of National Parks, within the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP by its Spanish acronym)
to be included within the category of “Civil Society Reserves” (Private Nature Reserve).
The procedure carried out to achieve
the linking of reserves is relatively short:
the application for registration must be
submitted to the Ministry of Environment,
following which the Minister gives notice
of the initiated proceedings to the City
Councils and the Autonomous Regional
Corporations or Sustainable Development
that have jurisdiction in the areas, to
display the notice in their offices.
The SINAP is the set of protected areas,
stakeholders and management strategies
that integrate to help achieve the conservation
goals of Colombia. The establishment of the
system began under the Convention on
Biological Diversity ratified by Colombia in
1994. Colombia, as part of this agreement,
is committed to establishing and maintaining
national and regional systems of protected
areas comprehensively and effectively
managed and ecologically representative
that contributes to the achievement of the
objectives of the Convention.
This is why it is so important for
Fundación ProAves to elevate to
Natural Reserves of the Civil Society the
status of the lands acquired, because
from that moment we are contributing
to the fulfilment of the objectives of
conservation for Colombia ensuring
the preservation, regeneration or
restoration of the ecosystems in the
reserves and allowing the generation
of environmental goods and services
essential to human welfare.
Then the Ministry and the Natural Parks
Unit may request a visit, to determine
and verify the importance of the example
in the natural ecosystem and the
production and utilization carried out in
the property subject to registration. Next,
following publication of the result of the
visit, the technical report receives further
study and if the property is found to be
important, the Ministry and the Special
Administrative Unit of the National
Natural Parks System proceed to give
their decision.
Two reserves are in the process are the
El Dorado Bird Reserve and Yellow-eared
Parrot Bird Reserve. These reserves are a
very important element in the projects of
the Loro Parque Fundación and ProAves
for the conservation of two endangered
species of parrot, respectively Pyrrhura
viridicata and Ognorhynchus icterotis. For
more information about SINAP: visit http://
www.parquesnacionales.gov.co
11
LPF NEWS
New locality for the Perijá Parakeet
At the end of September, Fundación ProAves reported that its
expedition to the Department of Cesar in north-east Colombia
discovered a new population of the Perijá or Todd’s Parakeet
(Pyrrhura caeruleiceps) which is Critically Endangered. This is the
first record in fragments of tropical forest in the foothills of Perijá
and only the third population existing of the species.
The enigmatic and little known the Perijá Parakeet has a highly
restricted range in tropical forest, mainly between 500 and 900
meters attitude along the border between Colombia and Venezuela.
As part of the Pyrhurra project, supported by the Loro Parque
Fundación, Fabián Guzmán, a ProAves researcher, is conducting
expeditions in Department of Cesar. After analyzing the possible
range (within the Colombian Parrot Conservation Plan 2010-2020),
this exploration uncovered the new population in the foothills of the
Serranía de Perijá, 130 km from historical populations.
An adult Perijá Parakeet
Forest loss and fragmentation are the major threats facing these
birds. ProAves is trying to determine the current status of the
population and the habitat characteristics of the species, among
other aspects of its natural history.
The Loro Parque Fundación will direct 1.233.760 US$ to conservation
actions in 2011
Funding to stop parrot trappers in Halmahera, Indonesia
Funds will help study the genetics of the El Oro Parakeet
Bucking the trend of cut-backs related to the economic recession,
the Loro Parque Fundación has again made a firm commitment
to the natural world by approving the use of 880.000 € (1.233.760
US$) of its funds for conservation actions in 2011. This is a record
amount of funding, and is the result of the recent recommendations
by the foundation’s international Advisory Board and endorsement
by its President and Trustees. The members of the Board, all
experts in different disciplines related to the activities of the Loro
Parque Fundación, reviewed the many proposals received and
recommended those considered most likely to have the best
conservation impact.
Thus, in 2011 the foundation will have 31 active conservation
projects in 20 different countries around the world, as well as in
the Canary Islands and peninsula Spain. Many of these projects
will be to protect and recover some of the world’s most threatened
species of parrots, while others will involve the conservation of
cetaceans. Fundamentally the projects are designed to not only
12
protect the rarest species, but also to protect and restore natural
habitat, and to collaborate with local people to instil a sense of
pride in their natural heritage, as well as to promote sustainable
local economies.
Announcing the project funding, Wolfgang Kiessling, President
of the Loro Parque Fundación said, “In the current uncertain
economic climate I am proud that the good governance and
expertise of the Loro Parque Fundación allows it to increase its
help to the natural world, a world on which we all depend. Loro
Parque continues its commitment to cover all the administration
and operational costs of the foundation, so that 100% of what is
received from our supporters goes directly to the projects. I take
this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks to all our supporters,
because together we have saved wild species from extinction, and
will continue to do so”.
Among the projects for 2011 can be mentioned the conservation of
the most threatened parrot species of Colombia and their forests,
new genetic techniques to study macaws, monitoring the migration
of Orcas in the Iberian Peninsula and research on the health of
Bottlenose dolphins in the Canary Islands.
LPF NEWS
News from the Loro Parque Fundación parrot collection
The Spix’s Macaw born in 2010 (right) with her older sister
A mixed group of lories ready to fledge
Lear’s Macaw chicks
August
had been watching the last Spix’s Macaw
in the wild during the last five years until
its disappearance in the year 2000. These
studies, which were supported by the Loro
Parque Fundación, revealed much scientific
information about the nutrition, behaviour
and way of life of the Spix’s Macaw. Without
these studies, this information would be lost
forever. These important findings will one
day be the basis for the reintroduction of the
Spix’s Macaw into its natural habitat.
The young Spix Macaw (Cyanopsitta
spixii), which hatched in spring of this year,
is a female. Our veterinarians were able
to determine this with a DNA test. At the
age of 135 days, she became completely
independent and was removed from the
office of the curator, who had raised her from
the first day on, together with her older sister
Turquesa born in 2004. Turquesa was kept
with this year’s female as a socialization
partner during the past few months.
Previously she was in a separate large freeflight aviary for Spix’s Macaws with two other
pairs. The young female has been named
Yara. She received this name in honour of
Dr. Yara Barros, the Brazilian biologist who
The 2010 breeding year also seems to be
most extraordinary for our Lear’s Macaw.
Up to now, five chicks have hatched from
our two breeding pairs, so that the total
number of Lear’s Macaws bred by the LPF
since 2007 is 15.
The breeding of the lories is also very good
this year. Nearly twice as many chicks
as at the same time last year have been
ringed, with 25 types of lory successful
so far in 2010. Very important to mention
are three young Red and blue Lories (Eos
histrio), eight young Fergusson Island
Lories (Lorius hypoinochrous devittatus),
five young Collared Lories (Phigys
solitarius) as well as two young Mt. Apo
Lories (Trichoglossus johnstoniae), all of
them very important breeding results to
establish self-sustaining breeding lines.
These species are very rare to find in
breeding centres and the Red and Blue
and Mt. Apo Lories are threatened in the
wild.
Also very surprising this year were
our Ouvéa Parakeets (Eunymphicus
cornutus uvaeensis), which for the first
time independently reared two chicks.
Previously, we always had to rear the
young birds by hand, because they had
not been fed by their parents. Now, after
several attempts, it finally works! This is a
great success that will hopefully continue
in the coming years. By the end of August,
1006 young parrots had been banded, so
to date we have a better result than the
previous year.
13
LPF NEWS
Also particularly gratifying is that our
successful breeding pair of Palm
Cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) started
breeding again, although later than last
year. Currently, the chick from the first
clutch is about three weeks old and
growing very well in the Baby Station in
Loro Parque, while the female has once
again laid an egg, which is also fertile.
A hungry Palm Cockatoo chick
Our other black cockatoos also start to
breed mostly in late summer, and we
have had eggs from two pairs of Redtailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus
magnificus) and from a pair of big Yellowtailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus
funereus), although unfortunately the eggs
were not fertile, so we now hope to have
better results with the next eggs.
September
As in any collection, there are species that
surprise us with their breeding success, but
also other ones for which we hope in vain
for a good breeding success. For example
our Hawk-headed Parrots (Deroptyus
accipitrinus) last year had no young, but
this year we can already report six chicks.
During this year we are testing a new
breeding method with our Thick-billed
Parrots (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha). We
have put eight individuals of this species
in a communal aviary with the following
measures: 20m long, 12m wide and 3.5m
high. The idea is to use the colony to
stimulate breeding. The nest-boxes were
Thick-billed Parrots inspecting nest-boxes
The “Lear´s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari)
Year” 2010 in the Loro Parque Fundación
continues its course beautifully, with three
siblings in the hand-rearing station already
with blue feathers, and two other young
birds of the same age who are thriving
perfectly with their adoptive parents, a
pair of Ara chloroptera. One of the pairs is
raising two chicks for the first time on its
own, while the other Lear’s Macaw pair has
just produced the first egg of the second
clutch, which will also stay with the parents
to allow this already experienced and
proven breeding pair the chance to raise
the chicks naturally.
14
the visitors above the canopy of the trees
that grow in this huge space. Trees which
have been growing for decades surround
the aviary with its 17 to 28 meter high
pylons, and give Katandra Treetops a
special and unique atmosphere, taking
the visitors directly into the natural habitat
of the animals. About 150 birds inhabit
the giant aviary, and about 100 of them
belong to the parrot family. In particular
the lories, cockatoos, Eclectus parrots
and Australian parakeets in their colourful
splendour astonish all the visitors. The bird
population is supplemented by selected
species of the same habitats, such as
emus, herons, swans, several species of
pigeons, Bali Starlings, Masked Lapwings
and pheasants.
After one year, we can now draw the
first balance. The coexistence of such
different species of birds cannot be
completely predicted in advance, and
so we also have had to gain experience
on what works or not. Thus, the aviary
is large enough for there to be sufficient
alternatives for all the residents, and
the coexistence among all the animals
works perfectly. Only the pair of Laughing
Kookaburras had to be moved to another
aviary, because suddenly they reacted
aggressively to our lories. This behaviour
started to develop over the course of time,
so that in the first month it was impossible
to discover. Some other parrots had to
be removed from the aviary, but for very
different reasons. Thus, for example our
Moluccan Cockatoos and the Ducorps
Cockatoos became so tame and intrusive
to the visitors, that several earrings of
the visitors were removed. This was not
acceptable, and therefore these “thieves“
were put back into the aviaries where
the lived previously. Now, instead of
them we have Major Mitchell’s and Palm
Cockatoos inhabiting the aviary. A couple
of lories (Edward’s Lories) were also
quickly occupied and the first pair has
started to breed. Given that this species is
known as a colony breeder in the wild, we
do not want to interfere now and will wait
some time to see whether this breeding
system also works for us.
In September 2009, in Loro Parque in
Tenerife, the inauguration took place of
one of the largest free-flight aviaries in
Europe, named “Katandra Treetops“. This
is an aviary for birds, and among them
parrots in particular, from Australia and
Asia. The walk-in aviary for the visitors is
at some points 15 meters high, and takes
Keeper – Palm Cockatoo encounter in Katandra Treetops
LPF NEWS
Small chicks of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
intrusive, always landing on the heads of the visitors. They were
not dangerous, but the visitors who do not know the behaviour
of these birds were frightened, and thus these two animals were
also replaced. In addition, other types were added or are still on
our list of “cast members”.
Golden Conures
Our wonderful Victoria Crowned Pigeons are now so tame that
they love to use the pedestrian walkway, and when there are a
lot of people they provide a traffic jam of astonished visitors. Now
everything has settled down and two keepers from Loro Parque are
always available in the aviary during the opening times to assure a
smooth process. After one year, we can draw a very positive result
and can declare that the big effort was worthwhile. All the Loro
Parque visitors are excited to see the birds without a separating
mesh. With this new attraction, Loro Parque has set new standards
in this unique presentation of parrots and other birds in a natureinspired enclosure.
October
Hyacinth Macaw chick two days old
The year 2010 seems to be a good breeding year for our black
cockatoos. Now three young Palm cockatoos are growing in
the Baby Station of Loro Parque and another fertile egg is in
the incubator. Although the first clutch of the Yellow-tailed Black
Cockatoos was not fertile, the second clutch indeed was fertile.
The two chicks have hatched and are currently growing in the Baby
Station of Loro Parque. Also with the Pesquet’s parrots (Psittrichas
fulgidus), a young bird hatched, and has been ringed. Our Golden
conures (Guaruba guarouba) also laid eggs this year, and while
five young birds are now independent, four others are currently
growing with their parents and are being very well cared for.
15
LPF NEWS
November
Lories in Katandra Treetops
It was interesting to observe how carefully the parents treated the
young chick of only 25 g and without any feathers. After a few days,
the consistency of the regurgitated food changed, because we
could see the first pieces in the viscous mucus lining. The installed
camera gave us an excellent insight into these nest behaviours.
Very often following question is asked: “How does a Hyacinth
macaw, with its huge beak, feed the newly hatched chick with its,
by contrast, tiny beak?” The camera provides the evidence: The
parent’s beak is in fact too large to feed into the small beak of
the chick, so the food is regurgitated in the area of the chick´s
beak, and the chick is actively fed, but most of the food does not
actually enter the beak.. After the feeding the chick is smeared
all over with food, which afterwards is cleaned-up by the parent
with its tongue. After each feeding, the chick is perfectly cleaned,
so that nothing is left or wasted. This is a very interesting way of
feeding, that we would never have discovered without the nest-box
camera. With the increase in size of the young bird, the feeding
becomes targeted and less food is wasted, until the beak of the
young macaw has reached a dimension that allows targeted
feeding without any waste.
On the 25th and 26th of December at 5.15 pm on the SWR channel
in Germany, the two-part documentary of the blue macaws will be
broadcast, which the curator from the Loro Parque Fundación,
Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt, together with the famous German TV
presenter Frank Elstner, shot in March/April of this year in Brazil. On
the 8th of January 2011, a summary of 48 minutes will be broadcast
on the ARD channel. The journey began at Tenerife, where the two
main protagonists packed a Spix’s macaw and a Lear’s Macaw
into two transport boxes for the journey. These animals were bred
Victoria Crowned Pigeons building a nest in Katandra Treetops
The Spìx’s Macaw school was included in the filming in Brazil
This year for the first time we have installed a camera in the nest box
of the Hyacinth macaw pair, which gives us detailed information
about the breeding behaviour of the animals. During the breeding
period, the female was visited very often by the male and was fed
and preened extensively. This plumage care was mutual, because
the male was also preened by the female as a reward for the visit.
Very often, the male came in the nest box, just to be with the female,
to be next to her or just to rest a little bit, without intervening actively
in the business of breeding. From the moment that the young bird
hatched, the male fed not only the female, but also the youngster.
It was fed by both parents equally, initially with regurgitated very
thin mucus-like, liquid food, which is more like saliva than a mash.
in the Loro Parque Fundación and during this journey were returned
to Brazil, where they will contribute to build breeding groups. After
that, the biologist and presenter commenced the trip to the northeast of Brazil, where the Spix’s Macaw, now extinct in the wild, was
once widespread and the population of the Lear’s Macaw, thanks
to the support of the LPF, has been recovering. The Pantanal, the
largest area of swamp in the world, was another place to visit,
because it is the main site of the Hyacinth macaw. The camera
crew obtained fantastic pictures of all the blue macaw species as
well as of many other species that inhabit the same habitats, and
therefore this documentary can be recommended strongly to all
parrot and animal lovers.
16
PROJECTS UP-DATE
New projects of the Loro Parque Fundación
New projects have been approved for Loro Parque Fundación financial support, and three of them are described here.
Swift Parrot
Breeding biology and migratory behaviour of endangered Swift Parrots:
key knowledge for effective conservation
food sources. Swift Parrots are continuing to decline and are likely
to become critically endangered unless better management can
be implemented. This project aims to provide crucial techniques
and data for improved management of Swift Parrots.
At an early stage the project needs to:
• Detail the critical aspects of Swift Parrot breeding biology and
ecology in relation to land management practices, especially
forestry.
• Determine breeding requirements, including nesting hollows
and food sources.
• Determine breeding habitat selection related to critical levels of
food sources (nectar from highly variable Eucalyptus flowering
events).
Flowering Eucalyptus trees provide food for Swift Parrots
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) is an endangered species that
undertakes an annual 5,000 km migration from its breeding habitat
in Tasmania to wintering habitat scattered across approximately
one million square kilometres in south-eastern mainland Australia.
It searches for nectar in temperate Eucalyptus forests and requires
old-growth trees for nesting hollows. However these habitats
have been dramatically impacted by human activities including
agriculture, forestry and urban development. Highly variable
climatic conditions also influence the availability of their nectar
• Develop techniques for tracking individual birds and determining
use of landscape during breeding.
• Determine reproductive success related to availability of
breeding resources.
The above information should fit into a broader project which will
include undertaking population viability analyses for the species.
The project also expects to the first in the world to attempt to
track small migratory parrots, using the latest field robotics and
17
PROJECTS UP-DATE
aeronautical technology together with miniaturised tracking technology. This should provide unprecedented insights into the ecology
of Swift Parrot migration, including their strategies and pathways across south-eastern Australia. Also for the first time, the project will
examine climatic conditions and food availability across the landscape and relate this to Swift Parrot migration and breeding success.
Finally, the project will inform policy development and strategic landscape conservation planning, and fulfil key National Swift Parrot
Recovery Plan actions. The principal investigator will be Dr Robert Heinsohn, Associate professor of the Fenner School of Environment
and Society, Australian National University.
Development of novel genetic techniques for conservation studies of
large macaws
• Use individual identities from genetic
samples to study individual movements
and to estimate home range size;
Also from the Fenner School of
Environment and Society, Australian
National University is researcher George
Olah, who will undertake the field part of
this project in the Tambopata National
Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National
Park of the Madre de Dios Region of
Peru. Genetic studies are important tools
for understanding conservation issues
such as the impact on fauna of habitat
fragmentation, degradation and loss.
This is the first project of its kind, and is
intended to provide a broad-based genetic
tool for the conservation of wild parrots.
The project will analyse DNA extracted
from feathers dropped by wild Scarlet
Macaws (Ara macao) at clay licks, with the
aim to estimate population size, genetic
structure, and individual movements. This
research should provide essential baseline data for understanding the impacts
of habitat fragmentation on large wide-
• Reconstruct
demographic
and
genetic traits of the study populations,
especially effective population size,
genetic diversity, genetic differentiation
among populations, and sex-biases in
dispersal;
ranging macaws, and for comparison to
other more endangered species. In the
project it should be possible to:
• Use knowledge of home ranges and
population structure and size to assess
the impact of human disturbances to the
environment, including the new Interoceanic Highway through south-eastern
Peru and expanded oil exploration in
wilderness areas such as the Candamo
Valley;
• Identify individual Scarlet Macaws from
the feathers they drop in the study area
using genetic tagging;
• Assess the feasibility of these novel
genetic tagging techniques as a widely
applicable tool in conservation biology.
Macaws at a clay lick
Monitoring of the migration processes of Orcas (Orcinus orca) in the
Iberian Peninsula
The Loro Parque Foundation is co-financing this project with the Biodiversity Foundation and the Ministry of Environment and Rural and
Marine Affairs of the Government of Spain. It is directed and coordinated by the Biological Station of Doñana, Higher Council of Scientific
Research, with the collaboration of CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), and the principal investigators Dr.
Manuela González Forero and Dr. Renaud de Stephanis . According to the Biodiversity Act, 2007 in Spain, the species included in the
categories of vulnerable on the Endangered Species List must have a conservation plan. Thus the project is integrated into the wider
project “Proposal for conservation plans for species of migratory cetaceans in the Peninsular Mediterranean.”
Orcas are top marine predators feeding
on a fairly wide range of prey. Genetic
studies carried out recently on the genetic
structure of populations of this species in
the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean
have shown that there are three distinct
populations. One population typically feeds
on herring (Clupea spp) and inhabits the
North Atlantic. Another population, which
stretches from the UK to the Mediterranean
has a varied diet including herring,
mackerel (Scomber scombrus), blue-fin
tuna (Thunnus thynnus), and occasionally
marine mammals such as minke whales
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata). A third
population is specialized on the exclusive
18
PROJECTS UP-DATE
by CIRCE over the past 10 years, with some studies supported by
Loro Parque Fundación.
consumption of blue-fin tuna and that resides in the Gulf of Cadiz.
The latter population has been monitored in the Strait of Gibraltar
Thanks to the information collected we are thoroughly acquainted
with aspects of population dynamics, social structure and spatial
distribution in spring and summer. However, there is a complete
lack of information on the use of species’ habitat and its feeding
strategies during the autumn and winter, and similarly we do not
know their feeding strategies in summer (when not interacting
with fisheries). To fill this knowledge gap, we are trying to deploy
satellite tags allow the locating of the whales through ARGOS
positioning, and to obtain information on their feeding strategies
and migration throughout the year. This information will be key in
the development of conservation measures for the species.
A double boost for the Grey-breasted Parakeet
Adult Grey-breasted Parakeets at a nest-box
Grey-breasted Parakeet chicks in the nest-box
As recently as 2005, the Grey-breasted
Parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus) became
recognised as a proper species, but
at virtually the same time gained the
unenviable title of being the Pyrrhura
species closest to extinction. Revealing its
true taxonomic status, as well as exposing
its precarious existence, was the result of
pain-staking work in museum and field by
the Brazilian NGO Aquasis. Using available
historic information, the Aquasis field
team identified and searched 16 distinct
localities across the states of Alagoas,
Pernambuco and Ceará in north-eastern
Brazil where this species could possibly
still have occurred. The result of the search
contained good and bad news. The bad
news was that the Grey-breasted Parakeet
could no longer be found in 15 of the
localities, widespread habitat destruction
and previous intensive trapping being the
likely important factors in its decline and
disappearance. The good news was that
it had not gone extinct, a small population
being found by Aquasis in the unique
moist montane forests above 500m in the
isolated Baturité Mountains of Ceará State,
about 100km south of the coastal capital
city of Fortaleza. These mountains, in
which humidity from the clouds supports
the moister forest, are surrounded by the
low-lying semi-arid caatinga ecosystem,
with ecological conditions considered
sub-optimal for this species.
In the knowledge that the original forest
cover of the Baturité Mountains has
been reduced to 13% or less, and that
illegal trapping remains a threat, Aquasis
launched an urgent conservation project
for this Critically Endangered species.
These conservation actions, supported by
the Loro Parque Fundación, Act for Nature,
Chester Zoo, and ZGAP (Zoological
Society for the Conservation of Species
and Populations) have currently focused on
the recovery of the species and its habitat
in the Baturité Mountains. Central to the
project is to promote the Grey-breasted
Parakeet as a flagship species, promoting
awareness within the local communities
of its uniqueness and fragility, and of the
ecological and economic importance of
the forest. With the additional support of
the Brazilian Fundação O Boticário de
Proteção à Natureza, the Aquasis project
has been developing alternative economic
activities for the local communities. The
Baturité Mountains are one of the top birdwatching destinations in north-east Brazil,
and the project is providing courses to train
local guides for bird-watching and other
nature activities. Partnerships with important
local stakeholders have been established,
the main focus being the education of
young people, the initiation of a local event,
the Guaramiranga Bird Festival, and even
encouraging the possible creation of a
private protected area.
Another crucial aspect of the project has
been to investigate the distribution in the
Baturité Mountains of the species, and its
reproductive cycle. A major limiting factor
is the lack of trees big enough for suitable
nesting cavities, and so in the longer-term
Aquasis intends to increase the availability
of nesting habitat. However, a short-term
objective is to increase the wild population
in Baturité, currently estimated at 250 birds,
by using nest-boxes, and to date 60 of two
designs (wooden and PVC) have been
installed in carefully selected sites. During
the first breeding season, monitoring of
the nest-boxes demonstrated that pairs
of Grey-breasted Parakeets inspected
them, and even mating behaviour was
observed only three meters from a nestbox, but no nests were occupied. This
was somewhat disappointing. Early in the
most recent breeding season the field team
again observed Grey-breasted Parakeets
inspecting two of the wooden nest-boxes
(none observed near the PVC nests yet),
and the sudden exciting news on the 9th of
March 2010 was that parakeets had been
photographed inside one of the boxes.
19
PROJECTS UP-DATE
Nest-box attacked by wasps
Rescued chick
them. The next day, two youngsters were
flying around, and the two remaining in the
nest-box were alive and active, but one
had suffered such a severe attack that it in
the end it died in the nest. This will be used
for DNA studies, but the other three young
have survived and are being monitored.
Rescue of the parakeets chicks from the wasps
Their presence showed a more serious
intent than just inspection, and subsequent
monitoring has confirmed that reproduction
has occurred, and the nest contained four
healthy chicks, soon to fledge.
This occurrence is indeed a boost for the
conservation of this rarest of Pyrrhura
parakeets, but just to illustrate the
hazards and precarious existence of tiny
populations, this brood was attacked by
a group of carnivorous wasps intent on
occupying the nest-box. The parents were
desperate and two of the chicks managed
to clumsily fly away. One of the four chicks
was severely stung while trying to leave the
nest and was trapped inside. Fortunately,
members of the field team were monitoring
the nest, and could quickly remove the two
remaining chicks that were being attacked.
It was a dangerous operation because
they had to act quickly, at 8m height, and
without any special clothing or protection.
With the help of some local people they
managed to smoke the wasps away, and
returned the chicks an hour later. After
another hour, the parents arrived and fed
But there is more good news than bad,
and a double boost has happened with the
report that Grey-breasted parakeets have
just been found in another locality. After
a programme about the Grey-breasted
Parakeet and the nest-boxes was aired on
national television on the 13th of March, a
landowner from the municipality of Quixadá
(a straight line distance of 70km from the
Baturité Mountains) called Aquasis to say
that he was sure there was a group of these
parakeets living in a secluded valley on his
property. The Aquasis team had previously
made a search in the municipality of
Quixadá, and even though no parakeets
had been found, ten local persons
interviewed gave positive descriptions
of the species, and Aquasis considered
that an extremely small population could
still remain undetected. Because of
this, and also that six specimens of P.
griseipectus (in the American Museum of
Natural History) collected in 1926 by Emil
Kaempfer were labelled “Quixada, Ceara,
Brazil”, the Aquasis field team went to the
Quixadá locality immediately. Finally, on
the 31st of March, they found (recorded,
photographed and filmed) a group of Greybreasted Parakeets, with a preliminary
estimate of 50 individuals. These parakeets
roost in cavities on the vertical rocky cliffs,
and foraging in the dry forest that occurs
along the base of the slopes of these cliffs.
These observations have not only caused
Aquasis to rethink the habitat requirements
for the species (not only high altitude moist
forests), but also give extra hope for the
recovery of the Grey-breasted Parakeet.
David Waugh, Loro Parque Fundación
Weber Girao, Ciro Albano and Alberto
Campos, Aquasis
Habitat of the recently re-discovered locality
Building a breeding stock of Blue-throated Macaws
The Loro Parque Fundación (LPF) has
succeeded, within 25 years since the first
successful captive breeding, in having good
breeding regularly and to establish a selfsustaining breeding stock of Blue-throated
Macaws (Ara glaucogularis). This is a safety
net for the wild population, which is classified
as threatened. A few years ago there were
20
known to be no more than a hundred
animals in the wild. With the strong support
of the LPF it has been possible to sustain
numbers in the wild by various protective
measures, such that we now have up to 400
Blue-throated Macaws again in nature. To
ensure a wonderful success, what has been
done to date must also be true for the future.
As parrot breeders, in the foreground for
us is always the discipline of breeding our
subjects, that is, in the first place we want
to rejoice in the offspring of our breeding
pairs. Nesting and breeding pairs bring us
exactly the satisfaction that we expect of
our hobby. Non-breeding pairs are most
frustrating for parrot breeders such they
PROJECTS UP-DATE
Part of the stock built-up by LPF
In other species with a larger number of pairs, failed breeding
pairs were always replaced by other “renewable” pairs. This
is the purpose of breeding lines. Therefore the fundamental
recommendation, speaking from experience, is to put together at
least five pairs of a parrot in order to make a meaningful breeding
work. Especially for rare and endangered species, we always have
to try this number as a minimum, though it may not always succeed
at first. We strive also for some species to have a higher number
of up to ten pairs. We have the LPF Management Plan created for
our collection, which is well defined and indicates how many pairs
are to be formed of any species or subspecies. In general, the
most important criteria are being threatened in nature and rarity in
captivity, and thus we try to establish more couples.
often lose the pleasure of the animals very quickly, sometimes
too fast, and they get rid of the birds. This has nothing to do with
conservation breeding.
If we really are committed to the conservation breeding of parrots,
we must strive to build our breeding stocks of parrot species. A
pair is a pair, for a still-producing couple of birds, but one partner
will eventually die and breeding comes to an end. Therefore,
responsible breeders are constantly striving to keep several of
pairs of a species, and the formation of unrelated young pairs is
the responsibility of the breeder.
Especially with our very large number of parrot species, and
over the observation period of 10 years during which Dr Matthias
Reinschmidt has been curator for the parrot collection of LPF, we
have often made the observation that species initially breed well,
but the breeding of a species can quickly falter, because this or
that animal failed.
Now to introduce in particular a rare and critically endangered
species of parrot, showing how we have managed to establish a
breeding stock.
In 1984 was the world’s first breeding of Blue-throated Macaws
at Loro Parque. Since then we have been able to put a leg-ring
on (until the end of June 2010) 250 young Blue-throated Macaws.
It has been a very productive building of a breeding stock of this
very rare species of parrot in captivity, in which until now have
successfully reproduced a total of 16 pairs. There is a pair that has
been nesting successfully since 1990 to today, with the record of
59 chicks bred.
Now we breed the Blue-throated Macaws even in the 4th
Generation, while emphasizing however that we still have animals
from the founder population breeding successfully. This also shows
that long-lived parrots, including the Blue-throated Macaw, usually
can have quite successful breeding over a period of more than two
decades. This also confirms the good holding conditions under
which we keep these animals. Under suboptimal conditions, the
21
PROJECTS UP-DATE
Of 110 newly hatched Blue-throated Macaw
chicks, the average hatching weight was
determined as 19.35g, with the lightest chick
weighing only 12.2 g, and the heaviest 25.5
g, more than twice as much. Also interesting
is the following example: from a clutch of four
fertile eggs hatched four young, which from
the first egg to the last were progressively
lighter (weights in the order of hatching: 24.7
g, 23.1 g, 21.1 g and 18.5g).
birds would not turn out to be productive
for such a long period of time. Important
for establishing a breeding group is first of
all to keep in all cases the youngest of the
offspring and only let go of them if there
is the possibility of an exchange with other
normal, unrelated individuals of the same
species, so that you build yourself a “gene
pool” which reflects as many unrelated
“founder animals” as possible. Thus, after
a few years, breeding your own parrots
should be mostly with the best breeding
birds, because they are familiar with the
given environmental conditions from
infancy. Therefore you should fall back
whenever possible on their own offspring
to establish a breeding stock, followed by
bringing in animals from elsewhere.
wide, eleven meters long and with a height
of 2.5 meters. At the front extremity feed
balconies are attached, so that most of the
waste from eating is kept out of the aviary,
facilitating the cleaning immensely. At the
rear near the top and on the outside is
installed a nesting box with dimensions of
1 m length, 40 cm width and 40 cm height.
This can be checked from the outside, thus
reducing the disturbance of the animals to
a minimum during nest monitoring.
Maintenance
Periodically, the water spray equipment
installed in the aviary is turned on and the
macaws thoroughly enjoy the shower. This
is not only a enrichment good measure
to occupy the birds, but it also promotes
preening and the health of the macaws.
All aviaries intended for breeding Bluethroated Macaw pairs are two meters
In hand-rearing the Blue-throated Macaws
usually easy and can be reared exactly like
their close relatives, the Blue and Yellow
macaws (Ara ararauna). They are reared
very well with the Nutribird A19 hand rearing
food from Versele-Laga. Also with parent
rearing it is very rare to have breeding
problems, and there are only one or two
pairs that pluck the feathers of their chicks
somewhat, but the plucked feathers grow
again fast in the very young animals. Up to
three young per clutch raised by our birds
are problem-free. In 2009, we were able to
raise young animals of nine different Bluethroated Macaw pairs, which places us in
a good position to put together different
blood-lines from the younger pairs.
Matthias Reinschmidt
The two feedings in the day include in the
morning a mix of fresh foods with fruit,
vegetables, and seeds (Versele-Laga) for
foraging. The afternoon comprises macaw
seed mixture (Versele-Laga) plus a few
extra nuts.
Breeding
The management of our Blue-throated
Macaws includes the removal of the first
clutch of a pair, after 10 days of incubation,
for hand-rearing in the incubator. Without
exception all our females produce a
second clutch that we usually leave with
the parents for natural breeding.
Chicks hand-raised at the LPF and almost ready to fledge
22
The average clutch size of the Blue-throated
Macaws (from 81 clutches) is exactly 2.5
eggs per clutch, but clutch size may vary
from one to four eggs. Of the 81, were 12
had a single egg, 19 with two eggs, 44
with three eggs, and six clutches of four
eggs. The average egg size (n = 206) was
measured as 4.572 cm x 3.373 cm.
Recently fledged chick in the project in Bolivia
LP/SP NEWS
Sponsors and donors of Loro Parque Fundación
Loro Parque is the Foundation´s principal sponsor. Therefore, the financial
support provided by our sponsors, members and donors can be dedicated
100% to the wide range of parrot and biodiversity conservation activities of
Loro Parque Fundación.
Special thanks to the following supporters during the VII International Parrot Convention: DMP Engineering Ltd., Peter Graumann, Andrea
Guimaraes and Gastao Zanirato, Mark Hagen, Parkieten Federatie, Perroquet Club Nord Alsace, Arleen Powers, Roland and Julia Seitre,
Petra Wolf.
And the organisers who donated their organiser benefits: Frank Fredriksen, Lars Lepperhoff, Paulo Machado, Ricardo Sobrino.
Garjor, Klaus Murmann, Cumba, Fontasol, ONO, Pencovi S.L., Emerencio e hijos S.L., Global Sistemas Integrales S.L., Frutas Cruz Santa,
Rohersa S.L., Dialte S.A., D.H.E., Fandango GmbH, Soulsurfing S.L., Astral Export, Melinda Pennoy Chouinard, Vogelfreunde Höchstadt,
Aqualandia, Rio Safari S.L., Vogelfreunde Achern, Vogelfreunde Kevelaer, Vogelverein Dingolfing, HSH Henri D’arenberg, Opein, Anfra
Estructura Metalicas S.L., Proyectos Instalaciones S.L., Banif, Max & Ruth Kuehbänder, Brotogeris Bociety International, Club Leones
de Puerto de la Cruz, Juan Luis Garcia Rodulfo, Papageienfreunde Nord e. V., Allwa Calefaccion, Bellevue Hospiten, Westerwälder
Vogelfreunde e.V., J.C. van Leijde, AFA, Andaman, Lemmikkilinnut Kaijuli Ry., Lero Minusval S.L., Pittimax, Verein Exotenzucht W.
Zimmermann, Abeer bin Faisal bin Turki, Krisztina Bordás
Our thanks to all our sponsors, donors and other supporters
one of
Hospitality is our tradition
PAQUET SPECIAL 7 NIGHTS PACKAGE FOR LORO PARQUE
We have created a special package for you “Friends of Loro Parque” that gives you the chance to
enjoy services and a wide range of facilities of the Hotel Botánico. Included is a visit to Loro Parque
and its magnificent installations during your stay free of change. Once back in the Hotel , we suggest a
visit to our healing temple “The Oriental SPA Garden” where you will have free access to our thermal
circuit with indoor and outdoor pool with underwater massage, three diferent kinds of whirlpools,
aromatherapy room, Turkish bath, Laconium, ice igloo, experience showers, relax area with warm
water beds and cardiovascular fitness room. Daily activities are being organised such as aqua-fitness,
aerobics and Thai Chi.
You will be staying during 7 nights in a deluxe room with sea or garden view and receive VIP treatment.
Every day an extensive and varied breakfast-buffet will be served and can be taken on the terrace
enjoying the sepectacular views to Mount Telde. Three dinners “a la carte” to choose in any of our
themed restaurants; “The Oriental” (Asian cuisine), “Il Pappagallo” (Italian/Mediterranean cuisine)
and “La Parilla” (Local and Spanish cuisine). For families with children Hotel Botánico offers family
rooms and double deluxe rooms with connecting door upon availability.
Twin Room Single Use
Twin Room
25.04 / 31.10.11
01.11 / 11.12.11
12.12 / 23.12.11
24.01.11 / 17.04.12
1.066 €
1.490 €
1.310 €
1.978 €
1.086 €
1.531 €
1.709 €
2.776 €
Rates are per person for 7 nights, 5% tax has to be added to these rates
Optional
services
· Limousine service from airport Reina Sofía (South) to Hotel Botánico (one way) 120 €
· Limousine service from airport Los Rodeos (North) to Hotel Botánico (one way) 70 €
38400 Puerto de la Cruz · Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain · Tel.: 922 381 400 · Fax: +922 381 504
Email: hotelbotanico@hotelbotanico.com · www.hotelbotanico.com

Cyanopsitta Magazine.. - Loro Parque Fundación

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