A rare blue Spix’s macaw declared extinct in the wild has hatched for the first time at a conservation centre, sparking new hope for the species.
The chick was born at the Centre for the Conservation of Endangered Bird Species in Pairi Daiza, a zoo in Cambron-Casteau, Belgium, on 21st September.
It is the first chick of its species to hatch at the park after 100 previous eggs failed to be fertilised, marking a major breakthrough in an international breeding programme to save the world’s rarest parrot.
Pairi Daiza/newsX
The zoo said: “Egg 101 is a true miracle of life. The result of years of effort and patience,” and described it as “a birth more precious than gold.”
Specialists decided to remove the egg from its inexperienced parents before it hatched to increase the chick’s chances of survival.
Its caretaker Thomas Biagi said having to feed the chick every two hours was exhausting but motivating because “we’re literally holding the future of one of the world’s most endangered species in our hands.”
The Spix’s macaw, native to north-eastern Brazil and made famous by the animated film ‘Rio’. Declared extinct in the wild more than 25 years ago by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Only a small number of birds survive today in breeding programmes around the world.
Pairi Daiza joined the conservation effort in 2018 in partnership with Brazil’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and the Sao Paulo Zoo.
Twelve Spix’s macaws are currently being cared for at the Pairi Daiza Conservation Centre. Which operates behind the scenes and is closed to the public to protect the birds from stress.
The new chick will not be reintroduced into the wild but will become part of the breeding population to help ensure the species’ long-term survival.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
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