Past Projects

Spix's Macaw

WPT funds help discover the last bird in the wild

In 1990, the WPT was asked to help with 40% of the funding needed by ICBP (now BirdLife International) to send an expedition to search for any Spix's Macaws remaining in the wild in Brazil.

One last bird was discovered, and team leader Tony Juniper has now written a book about the threatened extinction of this bird, caused by illegal trapping and export of the birds to rich collectors in Switzerland, the Philippines, and Spain.

An official committee for the recovery of Spix's Macaw has recently collapsed. There are no birds left in the wild, but around 60 in private hands. Tragically, these are near all very closely related individuals; many are siblings.

The future of the species rests primarily with the owners of the largest group, at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation Center in Qatar. The World Parrot Trust has always been willing to contribute all its avicultural, veterinary, and biological expertise to the recovery of this critically threatened species.

Captive Spix makes the long jouney home to Brazil

In 2002 a discovery was made. A captive Spix's Macaw was found, by chance, by parrot enthusiast Mischelle Muck living in the United States. With the help of WPT's Director - James Gilardi, and after an intense five-month effort by Muck and a number of veterinarians, geneticists and government officials, the macaw named Presley was returned to its native Brazil to join a breeding program in Recife, after about 25 years in captivity in the US. He is reported to be doing well and has recently been paired with a female.

To help save parrots please:

Or Contact Us to learn more about how you can help.