365Telugu.com online news,Jamnagar, January 30, 2025: In a historic conservation effort, 41 Spix’s macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii), a species declared extinct in the wild in 2000, have been successfully transferred to Brazil for reintroduction into their native habitat.
This milestone is part of the global Spix’s Macaw Reintroduction Programme, led by the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) in collaboration with the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), an affiliate of Vantara.
The birds, selected based on their pedigree and health, were transported from ACTP’s breeding facility in Berlin, Germany, to a dedicated release centre in Bahia, Brazil. The group included 23 females, 15 males, and three unsexed juveniles, some of which will be integrated into breeding efforts, while others will be prepared for release into the wild. Prior to the transfer, the macaws underwent a strict 28-day quarantine and comprehensive health assessments to ensure their suitability for reintroduction.
The birds departed Berlin on January 28 via a chartered flight and arrived the same day at Petrolina Airport, Brazil, where border police and federal customs facilitated swift clearance.
They were then transported to a quarantine facility under the supervision of a specialized team, including veterinarians and conservation experts from ACTP and Vantara’s GZRRC.
Martin Guth, Founder of ACTP, expressed his gratitude, stating, “On behalf of ACTP, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Anant Ambani and Vantara for their invaluable contribution to the Spix’s Macaw Reintroduction Project.
Their expertise, financial support, and commitment to biodiversity restoration have been instrumental in the success of this initiative. This partnership highlights the power of collaboration in conservation, and we look forward to continuing our efforts together.”
The Spix’s macaw, widely recognized from the Hollywood film Rio, has been at the centre of a multi-stakeholder conservation programme involving private organizations such as ACTP and Vantara’s GZRRC, alongside the Brazilian government.
In 2019, a dedicated Release Centre was established in Brazil, followed by the transport of 52 birds from Germany and Belgium in 2020. A major milestone was reached in 2022 with the release of 20 Spix’s macaws, which led to the first wild-born chicks in over two decades. The ongoing success of this programme relies on annual releases to build a stable wild population.
Beyond its work with Spix’s macaws, Vantara is actively engaged in species recovery and ecosystem restoration efforts. The organization is involved in reintroducing captive-bred rhinos, strengthening Asiatic lion populations, and advancing the return of cheetahs to Indian forests. The Spix’s macaw reintroduction marks another significant achievement in Vantara’s commitment to global wildlife conservation.