Extinct parrots have returned to the jungle

  1. Home
  2. Overseas
  3. Extinct parrots have returned to the jungle
Scientists managed to return to the habitat of extinct birds
19:40, 16.07.2022

The last blue macaw in the wild disappeared in 2000.



Blue Macaws are back in the forests of Brazil. There are only eight of them, and scientists released them into the jungle. The fact is that the last macaw in Brazil disappeared more than twenty years ago. Since then, these birds were considered an extinct species. Some of them have survived only in private collections. Since then, experts have tried to renew their population. Finally, thanks to a special international program to save these parrots, the first eight birds were returned to their natural habitats and for a month they have been settling in new conditions, reports The Guardian.

The range of blue macaws is thorn forests in northeastern Brazil. The first blue macaws were discovered in the forests of Brazil by the German biologist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spiks in 1819. In the 20th century, they began to be caught en masse in order to use birds as pets. They were also seriously affected by the development of agriculture. The last blue parrot was seen in the jungle in 2000.

They began to save them after the release of the cartoon Ree, the main character of which is the blue macaw, and his goal in life is to save his species from extinction. The two parts of the cartoon collected almost a billion dollars at the box office and drew the attention of the world to the problems of endangered parrots. It was from these films that the audience learned about the threat of extinction faced by blue macaws.

Extinct parrots have returned to the jungle

In 2018, a special reserve for blue macaws was created in Brazil, and a rescue operation began around the world to revive the endangered species. Scientists used parrots from private collections to increase the number of members of the species that could eventually be released into the wild.

Now the birds are under the scrutiny of scientists, and in December of this year, the researchers plan to release 12 more blue macaws in the forests of Brazil. All of them are of reproductive age, so they will start nesting in the reserve next year.

To prevent the birds from feeling lonely, wild red-backed macaws ( Primolius maracana ) have been placed with them, which must teach their blue "brothers" to search for food and hide from predators.

According to experts, the life expectancy in nature of blue macaws can be 20-40 years.

Support us on Patreon
Like our content? Become our patron
Elena Rasenko

Elena Rasenko writes about science, healthy living and psychology news, and shares her work-life balance tips and tricks.