Loro Parque Fundación

Cyanopsitta
September 2000
No 58
FUNDACI ÓN
Cyanopsitta
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Message from the F
ounder
Founder
No. 58 - September 2000
Cyanopsitta - Latin for blue parrot. The only
member of this genus is Cyanopsitta spixii, the
Spix’s Macaw. It is a highly endangered species,
symbol of Loro Parque Fundación, and of the
need to conserve our planet.
Message from the Founder
2
A delegation from Seaworld visits LP
3
3rd Parrot Workshop at Loro Parque
4
Publication of the second edition of Loro
Parque’s guidebook
5
«Zoo Zoo» collection
6
Meeting Point
8
Loro Parque Hotline
9
Loro Parque’s food kitchen
10
Open letter from the founder
11
Report on the breeding season 2000
12
New parrot field conservation projects
20
Parrot education sign: Hyacinth macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacintinus
23
Front Cover: Trichoglosus haematodus
Editorial Office:
Loro Parque S.A.
38400 Puerto de la Cruz
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Spain
Tel.: + 34 922 374081
Fax: + 34 922 375021
E-mail: <[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
Editorial Committee:
Wolfgang Kiessling, Inge Feier, Yves de Soye,
Dr. Javier Almunia, Corinna Brauer.
Visit our websites:
Visit the website of Loro Parque Fundación,
which provides you with detailed information
on our programmes at: <http://www.loroparquefundacion.org>. For the website of Loro Parque,
please check out <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.
The current annual membership fees are:
Adults (non-resident): ........... 15,000 Ptas.
Adults (resident) &
children (non-resident): .......... 7,500 Ptas.
Children (resident): ................. 3,750 Ptas.
Please send us your membership subscription by
mail, fax or e-mail, or call us, and we will sign
you up immediately.
It is summer on Tenerife: 28° Celsius throughout day, breathtaking sunsets
full of vivid colours and mild evenings which set the scene to while away
the time on an open-air terrace.
Summertime is holiday time, and many businessmen come to visit Loro
Parque with their families, to relax and enjoy themselves. Often, these
visits are a welcome opportunity to conversate and to escape from the
busy lives we live today.
Summer also marks the end of the parrots’ breeding season, although
there are a few species still to lay their clutches. Most of the chicks,
however, have already hatched; they’re sitting in their nests looking around
wide-eyed, exploring their surroundings. Some of them can be observed
being fed in the park’s handrearing station.
In our penguin installation, light is gradually coming back to our penguins’
installation - having adapted Planet Penguin to the natural conditions of
the South Pole, our visitors can now observe daylight slowly returning to
the most southern point of our planet: the antarctic sunrise, the equivalent
of the northern midnight sun. The long polar winter, an impressive
experience for our visitors over the last few months, is over. Our penguins
have now become more active and have already started to form pairs
and prepare their nests.
The 22nd of September was declared the “car free day” all over Europe;
the town of Puerto de la Cruz took part for three days, coinciding with
the celebration of the UNO World’s Peace Day. It was good to see that
people still knew how to walk and could leave their cars at home. In spite
of this, many people visited the park, and the town centre was crowded
by both tourists and Canarians enjoying the tranquility and the fresh air in
the centre of Puerto de la Cruz.
On this kind of occasion, we are once again reminded of the heavy load
that we bring to bear on our planet, indiscriminately using resources and
producing waste. Almost everything we do during the day affects in
some way the balance of nature. The Spanish Institute for Statistics has
recently published a study which states that every Spanish resident
produces 102 kg of plastic waste per year - imagine the heap! Although
most of the existing plastic materials can be recyled nowadays, they’re
still artificial substances. And there’s more...
Three years ago, the idea of an postage stamp in favour of the environment
ocurred to me (see page 11). Maybe one of our readers could help us
make this idea a reality not only to help parrots, but for the future of our
planet and mankind itself.
Bank Account:
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA)
Puerto de la Cruz
0182 5310 61 001635615-8
Wolfgang Kiessling
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
A delegation from Seaworld
visits Loro P
arque
Parque
Wolfgang Kiessling with V. G. Abbey, Seaworld President, B. F. Andrews, Vice President Zoological Operations, A. Parker, M. E.
LaBroad, J. G. Peczi, J. R. Yust, D. R. Smith, L. B. Pester and J. B. Dean
During the last years, Loro Parque has
established a productive relationship with the Seaworld
zoological group. The collaboration covers a wide range
of activities, from conservation to animal management
and veterinary questions, focusing on topics related with
penguin and marine mammal management.
Seaworld penguin exhibits were used as a
model in the construction of the world’s biggest
penguinarium which was initiated a couple of years
ago and which has become an avantgarde exhibit:
“Planet Penguin”. During the construction of Planet
Penguin, personnel from Loro Parque visited Seawold
zoos to have a first hand impression on hand rearing
techniques, penguin management, diets, nest materials,
etc. To programme the computer system which
simulates the daily and seasonal Antarctic light cycles
inside our penguinarium, the light pattern of the
Seaworld’s penguinariums was used as a basic
reference. Further collaboration was carried out in the
design of the air and water filtration systems, in order
to optimise air and water quality parameters. And finally,
some of the penguins now hosted in Planet Penguin
come from zoos of the Seaworld group. Those animals
were transferred to our exhibit only after an “in situ”
Seawold technicians’ visit, in which they ensured that
the extraordinary quality of our installations matched
all their requirements.
There is also an intense collaboration between
the two zoological institutions in the field of veterinarian
medicine. The veterinarian departments at Seaworld
and Loro Parque have shared information and
experience, especially as far as penguins and dolphins
are concerned. This collaboration is, without any doubt,
the result of the high standards of veterinarian
experience reached by both institutions.
The visit of this Seaworld delegation, led by
its President V.G. Abbey and his Vice President B.
F. Andrews, has reinforced our strong bonds, and
established new collaboration channels between our
zoos.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
3rd P
arrot W
orkshop at
Parrot
Workshop
Loro P
arque
Parque
The participants inmortalized at Loro Parque’s main entrance.
The third parrot workshop for German
speaking participants took place between 28th April and
05th May 2000 in Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain.
Thanks to the magnificent collaboration between the
parrot magazine PAPAGEIEN and LORO PARQUE
FUNDACIÓN both organizers, Matthias Reinschmidt
(PAPAGEIEN) and Inge Feier (LORO PARQUE
FUNDACION) welcomed the so far largest group of
assistants. This time, 38 participants from Germany,
Switzerland, Austria and Holland met in Tenerife. This
event has been a superlative regarding both the number
of participants as well as the different ages represented,
the youngest assistant being 20, the oldest 84 years old
- a circumstance that enriches everyone’s experience,
because young breeders may profit from more
experimented ones. During the discussions held after
the speeches, quite often people were confronted with
contrary opinions and ideas - however, this was the
only way to learn from other people’s knowledge and
experience.
The programme was based on the first two
workshops, although some of the speakers have been
exchanged. The speeches that were held dealt with
the following issues: Parrot breeding in Loro Parque
(Miguel Bueno, curator of Loro Parque), nutrition of
parrots (Marcellus Bürkle, veterinarian of Loro
Parque), artificial breeding and handrearing (Matthias
Reinschmidt, organizer and editor of PAPAGEIEN),
methods of disease prevention and protection in parrots,
(Prof. Dr. Helga Gerlach), and parrot breeding - a
contribution to parrot conservation (Yves de Soye,
scientific Director of
LORO PARQUE
FUNDACIÓN).
Apart from the different speeches and
discussions, the assistants also were invited to take a
look behind the scenes in many of Loro Parque’s animal
departments: food kitchen, clinic, breeding station,
dolphinarium etc. On several ocasions, they also met
in the evening to sit together and continue their
conversations.
This event, meanwhile, plays an important role
in the Foundation’s activities, and the 4 th Parrot
Workshop planned to take place in December 2000 is
already being prepared.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
One of the breath-taking photos included in the guidebook (Photo J. A. de Corral)
Publication of the second edition of
Loro P
arque’s guidebook
Parque’s
A useful guide that leads you through this beautiful zoological and botanical garden
At the back of the book, the reader will find a detailed
map pin-pointing the whereabouts of all attractions, as
well as a suggested round tour that covers the most
important sites.
“Loro Parque” also takes a closer look at the activities
of Loro Parque Fundación, a non-profit organization
dedicated to the protection of endangered parrot
species. Since its creation in 1994, it has maintained
various field projects abroad that are explained in the
text.
The book also highlights the Hotel Botanico, an
emblematic five star hotel bought in 1995 by Loro
Parque, S.A. This luxurious hotel is situated next to
Tenerife’s Botanical Garden, and has been transformed
into an extention of this green and pleasant place.
Following the 1999 publication of the very successful
first edition of “Loro Parque”, of which 70 000 copies
were sold and a donation of 10,5 million Ptas were
destinated to the Foundation, there is now a second
edition on the market that contains all the park’s latest
attractions.
130 pages illustrated using over 200 colour photographs,
this book gives a complete insight to the real meaning
of Loro Parque: its history, goals and philosophy and
the many animal species it houses, including the most
spectacular collection of parrots in the world submerged in tropical gardens and abundant vegetation.
In this new edition, the reader can also find out all on
“Planet Penguin”, one of the latest attractions that Loro
Parque has to offer. As the biggest penguin exhibit in
the world, it houses four penguin species and offers to
the visitor a virtual journey to Antarctica - an expedition
similar to none.
This work is definitely a must if you want to get to the
heart of Loro Parque and learn about the importance
of the Foundation’s activities.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Loro Parque collaborates with Bruño editorial
in the creation of an animal booklet collection
“Zoo Zoo” Collection
Environmental education should be
one of the main objectives of each zoo
engaged in the protection and conservation
of nature. With this aim in mind, they should
use the interest which people show while
watching animals to convey admiration and
respect for nature, demonstrating the
important role that zoos play in
conservation. The editors ‘Bruño’ in
Madrid, Spain, in collaboration with the
Education Departments of Loro Parque
Fundación and the Zoos of Madrid,
Barcelona and Jerez, have accomplished
one of these goals, that is using the effect
animals have on human beings to inspire
them to protect nature. The project in
question compiles 24 booklets for children
from 6 years up entitled Zoo Zoo, written
and illustrated by different authors. Each
narrative tells a different story about a
typical zoo animal, teaching children in an
interesting and entertaining way all they
have to know about the anatomy, biology
and ecology of their protagonists.
The Education Departments of the
different zoos have supervised the
scientific aspect of the project and have
collaborated in the compiling of
illustrations; they also proposed the
activities and games mentioned in each The booklets are sold in a portable set. (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
booklet and have chosen some of the
The series of illustrated booklets will be on the
subject animals - such as the penguin, Loro Parque’s
latest attraction. The story’s principle character is market in September and are ideal for drawing
Santiago, the first King Penguin to hatch at Loro children’s attention towards animals in a way they will
Parque, and tells the story of his life from birth to enjoy. Furthermore, it encourages teachers as well as
adulthood. Another animal inevitably chosen by Loro parents to visit a zoo once in a while. As far as Loro
Parque Fundación is the Spix’s Macaw. The tale tells Parque Fundación is concerned, the booklets are not
how ‘Ulises’, the last wild male of the species, only a fun-way to learn about nature, but also represent
unvoluntarily gets into trouble with the human race, a source of financial aid for conservation as all sales
showing the negative aspects of indiscriminate profits go towards helping LPF projects.
collecting.
6
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
MEETING POINT - MEETING POINT - MEETING POINT - MEETING POINT
The Education Department of the Canarian government
during their visit to Loro Parque (Victor M. García Díaz, Sonia
Rodríguez Suárez, Pedro Millán, together with LPF director
Inge Feier and LPF educator Dr. Javier Almunia). Once again,
their visit has demonstrated the excellent collaboration
between the two.
“The Beauty and the
Beast”? - Yanira Martín
Villalba (Miss Atlántica)
and Jossias Santana
Hernández
(Mister
Canarias) have been the
protagonists for one day
during some shots in Loro
Parque. Both will take part
in the election of Miss
Atlántica International and
Mister Spain respectively.
In the next school year 2000/2001, Loro Parque will again
collaborate with the Spanish Ministry after renewing the
contract with “La Escuela Navega” . (Jose Zenon Ruano,
Director General, Angeles Barroso, Directora, Maite Ramos
y Clara Milena.)
Isabel Prinz, TV
actress and presenter,
who visited Loro
Parque
on
her
holidays. On the photo
she holds a beautiful
macaw threatened by
extinction.
“Tenerife News”’ editors, David and Patricia Gilroy, who
support the Foundation through publishing free articles and
announcements in their newspaper, have lately become
Foundation members.
‘Radio Nacional” of Spain broadcasted a radio programme
from Loro Parque, introducing Loro Parque Fundación and
its projects.
Wolfgang Kiessling and his wife together with Salvador
García, the mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Carlos Wahnon
de Carvalho Veiga, Prime Minister of the Cape Verde
Islands, with his family, as well as the Consul Juan
Cárdenes Martín and his wife.
Parliamentarians from the EC visited Loro Parque in order
to learn about the Foundation’s activities.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
LORO PARQUE HOTLINE - LORO PARQUE HOTLINE - LORO PARQUE HOTLINE
A series of new instruments further improved the work
standards in the Veterinary Clinic. Very important is
the video-endoscope, that will allow us to perform smallscale invasive surgeries in birds, such as the biopsy of
internal organs and post-invasive monitoring .
Furthermore we can count on a new “Ellman
Surgitron®”, a special radio-surgical unit that allows
the veterinary staff to perform soft-tissue surgeries
without blood losses. This is of primary importance in
small patients such as birds.
On the night of July 13th, our Californian sea lioness
Tina gave birth to a beautiful female pup.
The Loro Parque staff was very happy to witness the
birth of two young Red handed Tamarins (Saguinus
mida). We already knew one of the adult females was
pregnant, as the examination performed by our mammal
curator Dr. Linda Timossi, together with our consultant
Dr. Andrew Greenwood during his last visit, revealed
the presence of two fetuses.
After many months of negotiations, and after Loro
Parque withdrew its initial offer, the German Bird Park
Walsrode was eventually sold on 13 September to a
consortium of three parties, including the Wild Animal
Park “Lüneburger Heide”.
The LPF Education Department has designed two
information panels to be placed at the gorillas exhibit.
Each panel consists of two smaller ones, with a text in
three languages. The first panel entitled “The Gorillas”
contains some general information about the three gorilla
subspecies, their main characteristics and distribution;
the second one, entitled «Family in danger» is dedicated
to the conservation problems of these animals. The
last two panels entitled «Our six male bachelors» give
some information on each of the six gorillas hosted in
Loro Parque as well as on the international zoo
collaboration for the conservation of the gorilla captive
population.
Our two pairs of Jaguars switched enclosures. The
two older animals that had been on public exhibit for
some time were transferred to the second off-public
exhibit. While these movements primarily intend to
enrich their routine and environment, it also provided
our veterinarians with the opportunity to perform a
complete check-up of these big cats, and to remove
the contraceptive implants from Yellow, the elder
female. This means that probably the Loro Parque will
have new jaguar cubs soon.
On one day in August, Loro Parque experienced a new
visitor record: 6300 visitors came to the park.
The quarantine of the penguinarium was redesigned.
It now additionally functions as a backup facility in the
case of an emergency, providing space and adequate
parameters for all the 160 penguins on public exhibition.
The appropriate cooling and filtration systems were
installed and the building insulated.
On 27 September, Loro Parque was awarded the Gold
Medal in Tourism of the Government of the
Canary Islands. It was handed over to Wolfgang
Kiessling by the President of the regional government,
Roman Rodriguez.
The new information panels at the gorilla exhibit
9
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Every day more than 400 kg of food are prepared in our kitchen
Loro P
arque’s food kitchen
Parque’s
In the centre of Loro Parque we find
the food kitchen, constructed using
large viewing panels to give the
visitor an idea of what our animals
feed on.
Throughout the year, a variety of
food is prepared here twice a day,
not only destined for our parrots, but
also for the cranes, flamingos and
pelicans. Every day, around 200 kg
of fruit and vegetables, 150 kg of
seeds and more than 70 kg of a
special lory mixture are used to feed
our animals.
Four different seed mixtures form
the basis of the many individually
prepared types of food that vary
according to each species. Huge A glance at Loro Parque’s food kitchen
quantities of fruit and vegetables are delivered, washed enriched with honey and vitamins. All the parrots are
and sliced daily - the size depending on each species’ fed at least twice a day (some even more) not only to
preferences. This job is carried out by specially prevent the food from rotting, but also to offer the birds
designed machinery, which enables us to make ten a rich variety of food. Depending on the season, they
different food mixtures in total using seeds, nuts and receive many home-grown products such as papayas,
fruit; although, there are still some parrots that require bananas and oranges, and even some which grow wild
a very special mix such as the fig parrots, plum-faced in the park such as flowers and palm fruits.
During the breeding season, breeding pairs are also
lorikeets and thick-billed parrots.
Seeds, fruit and vegetables are the basis of most parrot offered slices of a highly nutritious “parrot cake”
species’ nutrition. However, there is one large group designed by Loro Parque and baked for them every
among them that feed mainly on nectar - the lories. day.
They’re given a special kind of pulp twice a day
The Advisory Board of L
oro P
arque F
undación
Loro
Parque
Fundación
Tomás de Azcárate y Bang
Ministry of the Environment
of the Canary Islands
Tenerife, Spain
Joachim Steinbacher
Editor of Gefiederte Welt
Bad Homburg, Germany
Susan L. Clubb
Avian
Veterinarian
Florida, USA
Ian R. Swingland
President and Founder
Durrell Institute of
Conservation and Ecology
Kent, England
Nigel J Collar
Research Fellow
BirdLife International
Cambridge, England
Wolfgang Grummt
Animal Park Friedrichsfelde
Berlin, Germany
David Waugh
Director
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Edinburgh, Scotland
Povl Jorgensen
Aviculturist
Haslev, Denmark
Roland Wirth
President and Founder
Zoological Society for the
Conservation of Species and
Populations
Munich, Germany
Sponsors of L
oro P
arque F
undación
Loro
Parque
Fundación
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Open letter from the founder
Loro Parque
38400 Puerto de la Cruz
Tenerife
The world is in a state of alarm
Our rivers and oceans are contaminated and our forests are dying. Over 50% of the tropical rainforests that
had existed at the turn of the last century have disappeared. Deforestation will continue in the future if we do
not call an immediate halt to this rampant destruction.
By now we all have become fully aware of the consequences - we are beginning to experience some of the
impacts even today. The rapidly advancing desertization in Africa and its catastrophic effects on man and beast
is one more drastic example of what lies in store for all of us; the balance of nature is disturbed.
The strategies of forest destruction have become increasingly sophisticated and lethal. The methods used by
the big fishing fleets do hardly leave any life where they pass, and with each day the air we breathe becomes
more endangered. More forests are being destroyed in a year than ten years ago in a decade. Responsible
politicians should be aware that, unless they adopt a firm stand on crisis measures to be taken, they will collaborate
in the destruction of the future of generations that follow and, ultimately of this planet. They will condemn
mankind to poverty, misery and hunger, weakness and disease. Therefore they, and every single one of us, must
become active to help our planet earth in order to keep it functioning.
Most of the countries on this planet have financial problems and difficulties to raise even more taxes, so a
different solution has to be found to raise money and to hinder further destruction. It came to my mind that at the
end of World War II, during the years of the Berlin crisis, a NOTOPFER BERLIN stamp of two Pfennig was
an obligation on each letter which was sent.
In our days, where modern high-tech communication systems are used, relatively few private correspondence
is transported by postal service, and in the management offices of multinational companies no-one will think
about a stamp. What I fancy is that, at one of the G-10 conferences, the statesmen participating at this meeting
should decide that an equivalent of five or ten US cents per stamp worldwide will be donated to the salvation of
our planet earth. In case these countries would decide on such an obligatory worldwide charge, it would be an
equal charge for everybody and not a decision taken by one government or politicians, but a global decision, and
consequently no letter in the world, the majority of these letters being business letters, would be transported
without this charge.
More than 200 billion letters transported by postal service with a donation of 10 US cents would mean 20
billion US dollars, and with 5 US cents 10 billion US dollars would be raised. This would definitely not be just a
drop in the desert, but real money.
If we have a budget of 20 billion US dollars and pay 32% of this amount, namely 6,4 billion US dollars, e.g. to
Brazil, which has about 32% of the forest stand of the world, the interest to maintain the forest would probably
be bigger than the country’s income from cutting its tropical forests, thus destroying our earth; this would enable
us to offer a promising future and better living conditions to our children.
WOLFGANG KIESSLING
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Report on the bre
season 2000
Standing on the threshold of the 21st century and considering the plight of
many species of psittaciformes in their natural habitat, different situations
become apparent but most of them have one thing in common: the
precariousness of their respective populations due to anthropogenic factors
giving rise to a difficult future ahead. We must remember that most of these
birds depend on large forest areas for survival and the majority of species
endangered by extinction are precisely those living in forestlands. Pressure
from local industry and multinationals, economic interests with little
understanding of the real situation and the tremendous increase in human
population in developing countries have all paved the way towards a frenzied
destruction of tropical rainforest and woodland. Loro Parque Fundación
represents a fortress in the struggle to conserve these species in nature, not
only through its field projects but also via its own important Psittacine collection.
Another breeding season has come to an end and it is now time to consider
the results, comparing them with our forecasts and analysing those that for
whatever reason did not come up to our expectations.
Cyanopsitta
eeding
No. 58 - September 2000
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
The vast Loro Parque Fundación collection is a true
legacy to mankind and the result of almost thirty years
of work and dedication. Today more than ever before
this collection represents a reality and a source of hope:
a reality because of its unquestionable importance in
the world of aviculture and increasingly to conservation;
and hope due to the objectives it maintains. The
challenges these objectives represent have become
increasingly difficult along the way but must be
overcome in order to succeed. An analysis of the
current breeding season is therefore not only carried
out to monitor the number of birds and new species
reared in our breeding centre but more importantly to
obtain an overall view of what this superb collection
can mean to Loro Parque Fundación and to establish
the general guidelines that determine its future.
The last two years since the completion of the new
breeding centre have seen the beginning of a new era
for the Foundation. The recent reorganisation of the
collection has entailed new challenges and posed many
questions but after two breeding seasons we now feel
many of these have been resolved. The work done
during this time has been of extreme importance,
providing new infrastructures to allow us to change
and improve the management of the birds. One of the
most prominent innovations is the construction of larger
aviaries providing optimum natural conditions in line
with changing seasons and behaviour. Before the
breeding season begins, birds of one or several species
are brought together to socialize or even form new
pairs. These pairs are then removed and housed in
breeding aviaries designed for greater privacy. After
the breeding season, the young are allowed to fly
together in one aviary to help develop their natural
behaviour and strengthen their muscles.
Our main objective has always been to provide our
birds with an as “near-to-nature” environment as
possible, copying the seasonal changes in nature and
thus obtaining better breeding results.
From October onwards, just before the start of the
breeding season, we begin to prepare the large flight
aviaries by planting grass and different seeds to offer
the birds a variety of nutrients and a chance to fulfil
their inquisitive nature. Perches and ropes of different
sizes are renewed, guaranteeing physical activity even
when the birds are resting. The introduction of socalled “retreat” cages, is also a determining factor at
this time; these mesh cages measure 1,5 x 1 x 1m and
are fitted with perches, a nestbox and a large front
door that can be easily closed from the exterior using a
nylon line. The reason for this additional cage is to allow
pairs which show a willingness to breed to retire to
this smaller area and thus display their territorial
behaviour. Once such a pair is inside, the door is
carefully closed and in this way the birds have been
easily transferred to their new breeding aviary. Different
kinds of the latter exist depending on the requirements
of each species i.e. suspended or situated at ground
level.
This type of pairing aviaries has been used with different
species such as macaws (Ara ambigua,
Anodorhynchus hyacinthus, Ara ararauna),
La vera breeding center.(Photo: J. A. de Corral)
14
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Upper view of La Vera breeding centre. (Photo: J.A. de Corral).
amazons (A. brasiliensis, A. rhodocorytha, A.
aestiva, A. viridigenalis, A. bodini etc), and other
species such as Coracopsis vasa, C. nigra, Cacatua
ophtalmica, Callocephalon fimbriatum. The results
have proved rather interesting. In some species such
as C. ophtalmica, no immediate pairing tendency was
observed: with this rather reserved and distrustful
species, it took several weeks to see how finally some
pairs perched and flew together. Two years after the
first pair was formed, we now have three breeding
pairs, two of which incubate and rear their young.
Amazons generally show a more predictible behaviour
and it became obvious after a few weeks that the
majority of the pairs that had been together for a long
period of time, even if they didn’t have any offspring,
stayed together. This, however, was not an unexpected
outcome as in the past the opportunity to fly and
socialise in a large flight cage did not exist, which may
have inhibited spontaneous behaviour and social
interaction. On the other hand, it is usually the case
that long-term pairs do not easily break up but stay
together throughout the changing seasons continuing
to show completely normal behaviour. In some cases
such as A. viridigenalis and A. albifrons, the
formation of new pairs ended in breeding success. The
Hyacinth Macaws have already been paired for two
years but only this year have we seen the first breeding
results.
Subsequent to the incorporation of these new
management techniques, certain guidelines must be
15
established to obtain the best possible results. Some
species will probably need some time to adapt to these
new common flights before they can be used to serve
as a stimulus. We can therefore expect species like
the great macaws, which don’t breed on a regular basis
but at intervals of one or several years, to develop
ecological reproduction strategies according to their
status based on their longevity and reproductive index.
Only by systematically fulfilling their needs, collecting
data and adequately anaylsing it, can we hope to
establish standards for each species’ management.
In the course of this breeding season, we have
systematically incorporated various kinds of nestboxes
in the installations of many species whose breeding
results have not been satisfactory during the last few
One of the big pairing aviaries.(Photo: J. A. de Corral)
Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Ara ararauna and Ara militaris chicks. (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
years or those that have bred irregularly. The second
nest was totally different to the first as regards size,
shape and illumination; our intention was to provide
one or more alternatives to those already offered in an
attempt to cover at least part of the variety of nesting
preferences that exist for each species - with some
very interesting results. Some common species like
Aratinga finschi, A. acuticaudata, Trichoglossus
h.moluccanus reacted favourably to the stimulus and
laid their first eggs for some time, rearing their young.
The lories received a new kind of nest, similar to the
one we have always used but with a thin double mesh
at the bottom allowing for better ventilation and drainage
of faeces, mostly liquid, requiring constant renewal of
nesting material. After having lost several eggs in the
old-style nests, this time we opted for an inclined version
to prevent the parents breaking the eggs when entering
the nest, as well as to facilitate their removal from the
bottom of the nest if necessary. An important aspect
to consider is that this species is normally very nervous
and will often leave the nest at the slightest disturbance.
We also offered the lories a second nestbox as an
alternative and a stimulus to those pairs that have not
produced any offspring over the last few years.
In general, this season is characterized by the successful
progress of many young pairs from last years breeding
season, especially the genus Amazona, most of which
laid eggs, albeit infertile, as in the case of A. pretrei.
Basically this year can be looked upon as a transitional
Cacatua sulphurea chick. (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
period for some species which could show better
breeding results.
One outstanding example of increased reproduction was
seen with Triclaria malachitacea, a species that we
have been concentrating on for the past two years.
From a total of four breeding pairs we have obtained
22 chicks this season with a 100% survival rate at the
age of ringing. Including 11 from last year and 5 from
the year before, this population is without doubt the
largest known in captivity with a total of 53 individuals.
A fundamental aspect of guaranteeing the stability of
this population has been to reduce the mortality rate of
juveniles and breeding females. At the same time a
reduction in the average age of the group as well as
the addition of new reproductive individuals, suggest a
promising future for this species that is very scarce in
aviculture.
Obviously it is necessary to maintain different bloodlines
in our installations to be able to draw on a sufficiently
diverse genetic pool and to take into consideration all
the known and unknown factors of the birds in our
collection on a long-term basis. In this respect it is
important to remember that the genetic diversity of the
populations of any particular species can only be
preserved if all the individuals contribute their genes,
irrespective of size, colour, appearance or behaviour.
Cacatua galerita and Cacatua sulphurea chicks.
(Photo: J. A. de Corral)
Chicks of several lori genus (Lorius, Trichoglossus, Charmosyna). (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
These latter selection methods were
widely used back in the early days
of aviculture when the parameters
that determined the health of an
animal or a population were based
on fashionable beliefs or animal
exhibition criteria. Today, this criteria
has thankfully been replaced by a
more integral outlook where a
conservationist approach plays an
important role in aviculture.
Other important achievements of this
season and a first time breeding for
these species in our installations
were:
Platycercus venustus,
Aratinga nana astec, Vini australis
and Rhyncopsitta pachyrhyncha.
The latter is extremely relevant as it
is considered threatened by the
IUCN and is legally protected in its
native country, Mexico. Two
females, hatched in their country of
origin, were imported to Loro Parque
at the end of last year and after the
corresponding pairing had taken
place, a first clutch of eggs was laid
by one of these pairs this summer.
As we observed positive behaviour
during the incubation period, they
were given a first try to rear the
young themselves which proved to Anodorhynchus hyacintinus and Ara chloroptera chicks. (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
be successful: the chicks left the nest
a few weeks ago. Natural methods
of reproduction have always formed part of Loro the first time ever in our Baby Station and we are
Parque Fundacion’s philosophy, not only by providing pleased to report that they reached independence and
optimum living conditions for our birds but also by can now be seen on exhibit at Loro Parque. The two
safeguarding the belief that parental care and behaviour main parameters adhered to when breeding the Keas
patterns passed on to offspring may be the key to the were the reduction of the energy content in their diet
breeding success of future generations. This is which was reduced to avoid excessive growth of the
particularly true in species threatened by extinction in chicks and a reduction in the normal keeping
their natural habitat, as well as those who have temperature compared to the young of other species.
developed unnatural behaviour after being handreared. At the age of approximately 20 days they were held at
room temperature, showing that they are capable of
Another important example is the successful breeding regulating their own body temperature.
of four Kea chicks (Nestor notabilis). For the first
time two chicks hatched in the nest; the main reason By consolidating the breeding of several other species
for this breeding success is put down to the installation such as Psittacula columboides, Psittacula
of a specific kind of nest that provides a flow of fresh calthrapae, Alisterus a. burensis, Tanygnathus
air and also the possibility of controlling the temperature, megalorhynchus, Amazona xantholora, Ara
i.e. lowering it when it is too hot outside. As a safety couloni, Cacatua opthalmica, Phyrrura
measure and considering we did not know how the rhodocephala and Cacatua s. abotti soon after they
female would react to this experimental nest, we first bred at the park, we feel sure that they will soon
removed two chicks from the nestbox for handrearing. be established in the collection.
Consequently, we were able to hatch Kea chicks for
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
It is also the case that many species which had already
produced young in the past have renewed breeding
activity after several years without success, namely
Aratinga guarouba, of which a new breeding pair
has been introduced, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus,
Enicognathus leptorhynchus, Lorius lory,
Psittaculirostris edwardsii and Pionites l.
leucogaster.
Finally, we would like to report on the progress this
year of the most emblematic of all species housed in
Loro Parque, the Spix’s Macaw. The two pairs which
were generously put on loan to us by the Brazilian
government are still demonstrating breeding activity:
in February this year we obtained the first clutch from
the older pair, as was the case last year. The total
number of eggs laid this season has been five, the same
as last year, although the four clutches have been laid
on a more irregular basis. Unfortunately the eggs turned
out to be infertile despite the frequency of observed
breeding activity. We therefore decided to exchange
the last infertile egg for one fertile Ara maracana egg
which resulted in the successful hatching of a chick
which reached independence, a fact that we attribute
to the education in reproduction of the pair in question.
Both birds have proved to be model parents in the care
of their young - feeding and protecting them for weeks
after they left the nest, up until the third week in August.
We hope that we will soon be able to report concrete
success with this important species.
Cacatua moluccensis and Cacatua sulphurea citrinocistata
chicks. (Photo: J. A. de Corral)
With 148 species and subspecies bred during this season
and the total number of chicks approaching the 850
mark, last year’s breeding record, Loro Parque
Fundación continues to represent a worldwide
reference as regards the breeding and conservation of
these species.
Current parrot field conservation projects
of Loro Parque Fundación:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Brazil: Spix’s Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii Recovery Programme
Brazil: Environmental Education Programme for the Red-tailed Amazon Amazona brasiliensis in Superagüi National
Park, Paraná
Bolivia: Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis Conservation
Ecuador: Cerro Blanco Bosque Protector - Lilacine Amazon Amazona lilacina & Guayaquil Macaw Ara ambigua
guayaquilensis Field Study & Environmental Education Programme
Ecuador: Conservation of the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis I
Colombia: Conservation of the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis II
Dominica: Conservation of the endemic Red-necked and Imperial amazons
Belize: Scarlet Macaw Outreach Program
Zambia: Status, Ecology and Conservation Biology of the Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis
Zambia/Zimbabwe: Conservation Status and Biology of the Greyheaded Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus
Thailand: Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary
Philippines: Red-vented Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia Conservation Programme
Indonesia: Action Sampiri - Conservation of Endangered Parrot Species on the Sangihe & Talaud Islands
Indonesia: Conservation of Endemic Parrots on the Tanimbar Islands
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
Four new parrot field
conservation projects
In the course of the present year, the Loro Parque Fundación
and its Board of Advisors have decided to become involved
with four new in-situ parrot conservation projects.
Over the same period, the funding term for one project expired,
and another project had to be discontinued.
Overall, the present number of projects supported by the foundation
has thus increased to fourteen.
Conservation of Dominica’s
Endemic Amazons
Project area:
Focal species:
Implementor:
Support by LPF:
Funding partner:
Dominica
Red-necked Amazon Amazona arausiaca, Imperial
Amazon Amazona imperialis
Paul Reillo, Rare Species Conservatory Foundation
& Dominica Forestry Division
19,280 US$
The Amazon Society – 1,000 US$
Continuing its long-term commitment to conserving Dominica’s parrots, the Loro Parque Fundación (LPF)
has awarded a US$ 19,280 grant to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) of Florida for in situ conservation and research on the Jaco (Amazona arausiaca) and Sisserou (A. imperialis). This award complements LPF’s
previous support to Dr. Peter Evans for his pioneering research on Dominica from 1987-1995, which helped establish
population-size estimates and conservation priorities for both parrot species. Since 1997, RSCF and the Dominican
government have partnered to focus primarily on the Sisserou—Dominica’s national bird and flagship species for
the eastern Caribbean’s largest, intact oceanic rain forest ecosystem. The program has yielded a number of important
results, including first-ever, intra-cavity documentation of parrot chicks and eggs, using a specialized video probe,
and quantitative analyses of bi-parental care and recruitment in both species, using direct observations and timelapse video surveillance. The parrot aviary at the Botanical Gardens in Roseau has been refurbished and renamed the
Parrot Conservation and Research Centre (PCRC). Most significantly, on 21 January 2000, culminating a two-year,
$1.086 million campaign spearheaded by RSCF, Dominica formally declared the new Morne Diablotin National Park,
encompassing c. 8400 acres of pristine rain forest and the only known nesting area for the Sisserou.
The LPF grant will enable RSCF researchers and Dominica’s Forestry and Wildlife Division to expand field
research efforts and help develop a captive-breeding program at the PCRC. Over the next year, field expeditions
across remote, mountainous terrain in the Morne Diablotin National Park and Northern Forest Reserve will address
distribution patterns and local population densities for the Sisserou, with an eye to expanding protected areas under
Dominica’s National Parks and Protected Areas Act. New GPS technology and software contributed by the U.S.
Geologic Survey will help scientists track local populations precisely, and pinpoint positions on digitized satellite
images. Demographic and life-history data gathered in the field will help direct propagation strategies including nestsite manipulations, artificial incubation, and cross-fostering. The LPF grant will significantly advance the Forestry
and Wildlife Division’s parrot conservation efforts and help quantify population parameters. Although the Jaco
population is robust (>1500) and appears to be expanding, recent, local population density estimates suggest a total
Sisserou population of not more than 200.
We are glad to report that The Amazon Society (UK) provided an additional US$ 1,000 to the project and has
thus become one of the Funding Partners of Loro Parque Fundación.
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No. 58 - September 2000
Scarlet Macaw Outreach
Program Belize
Project area:
Focal species:
Implementor:
Support by LPF:
Belize
Scarlet macaw Ara macao cyanoptera
Sharon Matola, Director, The Belize Zoo and
Tropical Education Center
12,000 US$
The northern Central American macaw, Ara macao cyanoptera, is the third largest macaw taxa. It is considered a
separate sub-species due to its having more blue in the wing and being larger than those birds found southwards
from Nicaragua. Less than 4,000 are believed to exist in small remnant populations in southern Chiapas (Mexico),
West Peten (Guatemala), north-eastern Honduras, eastern Nicaragua, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and southwestern
Belize. In Belize, less than 250 Scarlet macaws are believed to remain, and reports persist stating that the shooting of
Scarlet macaws continues in the south of the country.
Adding to the uncertainty of the future status of this species is the current threat to their only known
breeding area in the country from a proposed hydro-electric project. If approved, the dam and reservoir would
inundate crucial floodplain habitat found on the Upper Macal and Raspaculo Rivers in the Central Maya Mountains
of Belize. Flooding these river valleys would destroy a keystone area in the Central American region – and one on
which the Scarlet macaws depend for their continued surivival.
While the contribution by ecotourism to the country’s economy has contantly been on the rise, Scarlet
macaws are increasingly becoming an important tourist attraction. The village of Red Bank, located in the Stann
Creek District, has seen its local economy strengthened due to visitors entering the village for a view of Scarlet
macaws. It is suspected that the macaws feed in the Red Bank area, and return to the Raspaculo river valley to breed
later in the dry season.
In January 1998, Sharon Matola won the Iris Darnton Award for Conservation given by the Royal Geographic
Society in London (UK) under the Whitley Award Scheme. The funds from this award were used to begin a multifaceted and dynamic education program which focused upon the Scarlet macaw. It involved the development of a
“pen-pal” program where children from Belize schools wrote about Scarlet macaws and other parrot species to
children in schools abroad. Schools and communities visited were those found nearest to territory in Belize inhabited
or frequented by Scarlet macaws. The program was well-received and successful, but funds necessary to keep this
work active were depleted by early 1999.
The Loro Parque Fundación therefore decided to start supporting the outreach programme, the scope of
which will expand to include the entire country of Belize such as to raise awareness about the endangered status of
the macaw on a nationwide level. The important role the Scarlet macaw plays in Belize both in the ecological and the
socio-economic sense will be used to evoke national pride and a protection ethic towards a species that forms an
important part of the natural heritage of the country.
The conservation status and biology
of the Greyheaded Parrot Poicephalus
fuscicollis suahelicus.
Project area:
Focal species:
Implementor:
Support by LPF:
Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, RSA
Greyheaded Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis
suahelicus
Craig Symes/Mike Perrin, Research Centre for
African Parrot Conservation, Department of Zoology
and Entomology, University of Natal, South Africa
5,000 US$
In a study initiated in 1992, the taxonomic status of the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus (Gmelin) was reviewed and
two separate species were proposed; P. robustus, confined to the fragmented Afro-montane forests of South Africa,
P. fuscicollis suahelicus, with a wider distribution inhabiting woodland, and P. fuscicollis fuscicollis, similar to P. f.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000
suahelicus in appearance, yet discontinuous in distribution and inhabiting a reduced range of woodland and forest
in West Africa.
The Greyheaded Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus, is found in the Soutpansberg of the Northern
Province, South Africa, north through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Caprivi strip of Namibia, Angola, Zambia, to
northern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and southern Central African Republic. Its conservation status is undetermined
and very little is known of its biology in the wild. Although widely distributed and no regarded as threatened, a
review by the IUCN and CITES recorded a significantly high trade in P. robustus (including P. f. suahelicus) between
1991 and 1995, implying that trade in birds may pose a threat to future populations. Lack of data on the ecology and
behaviour of this species hampers the ability of the necessary conservation bodies to protect and effectively
manage populations.
The Loro Parque Fundación decided to support the research by Craig Symes into the biology of the
Greyheaded Parrot, as it will determine the status of the species in the wild and form a basis for future conservation
strategies. The principal objectives of the project are to establish and map the historic and present day distribution;
to model abundance on a temporal and spatial scale; to describe the breeding biology of the species in the wild and
identify breeding requirements and limiting factors; to identify feeding and habitat requirements, and estimate food
availability; to further investigate taxonomic status in relation to distribution, habitat requirements, breeding biology
and vocalizations; to determine mobility and seasonal movements; to generate a realistic conservation protocol and
produce an action plan for the conservation of the species in the wild and captivity; to involve relevant authorities,
organisations and conservation groups in the implementation of these conservation measures in the long term.
Conservation of Endemic Parrots
in the Tanimbar Islands
Project area:
Focal species:
Implementor:
Support by LPF:
Funding partner:
Tanimbar Islands (esp. Yamdena), Indonesia
Tanimbar Cockatoo Cacatua goffini, Blue-streaked
Lory Eos reticulata, Eclectus Parrot Eclectus
roratus riedeli
BirdLife International-Indonesia Programme
18,400 US$ (11,800 + 6,600 US$ from Kakatua
Seram)
ZGAP – 18,400 US$
Since a National Park will supposedly be declared on the island of Halmahera – subsequent to survey work supported
by Loro Parque Fundación – the Tanimbar Islands are presently regarded as the highest priority area in the Moluccan
Province of Indonesia in what concerns the need for protected area gazettment. The islands harbour two endemic
species of psittacines, the Tanimbar Cockatoo and Blue-streaked Lory, as well as a distinct subspecies of Eclectus
Parrot.
Capture for trade in the parrot species in Tanimbar continues largely unchecked, despite the Appendix I
CITES listing of Cacatua goffini. Additionally taking into consideration the threats from logging, there is a strong
possibility that the endemic parrots will become increasingly threatened unless a suitable protected area is established
that can act as a refuge for the species.
At the present time there is a very unusual opportunity for the gazettement of protected areas in Maluku
Province under the auspices of a World Bank project. This may be the last real opportunity to establish a system of
protected areas in the province that contain a complete range of island ecosystems from coral reefs through to
pristine and relatively extensive areas of forest. One of the islands that the World Bank project wishes to focus on is
Yamdena, in Tanimbar. In order to establish a protected area there, however, there is need for an evaluation of the
situation on the ground and for sound recommendations based on fieldwork and an appraisal of potential problems
arising from the various interest groups. This is what the first phase of this project aims to contribute to the process.
A survey team will visit the proposed site for a period of 3-4 months during 1999/2000. The surveys will assess if the
proposed reserve is adequate for conserving Tanimbar’s parrots and other endemic birds.
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Cyanopsitta
No. 58 - September 2000