via Reema Nirvana Ongy
Back in 2019, the Cyanopsitta spixii, also known as the Spix Macaw was declared extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), due to deforestation, agriculture, livestock grazing, and dam construction leading to extensive habitat degradation—causing the birds to diminish in numbers.
After the birds disappeared from their natural habitat, an international breeding program began their efforts in bringing back the latter. This effort was founded on a small number of privately owned birds, which became the basis for the species’ survival. The Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) in Germany, along with other zoos and private collections, played a role in accumulating and reviving the birds.
The program focused on increasing the breed’s population, while maintaining genetic diversity for future generations of it. The Brazilian government’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) along with private breeders and conservation organizations, were crucial to the recovery plan.
Following the progress, its efforts led to the substantial growth of the captive population—with 180 to 360 Spix’s Macaws existing worldwide. With the success in the initiative, preparation for establishing breeding and release facilities in Curaçá, Bahia, (within the macaws’ historical range) were in the works. By March of 2020, 52 captive-bred Spix’s Macaws were transferred from Germany to Brazil, beginning their acclimation (the process or result of becoming accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions) to the local environment.
By June 2022, 20 Spix’s Macaws were set free, accompanied by 15 wild-caught Blue-winged Macaws, serving as the “mentor” species—helping them learn survival skills like foraging and predator avoidance. First year monitoring showed a 58.3% survival rate, as well as a good group cohesion among the reintroduced birds, as well as sightings of the first wild-born Spix’s Macaw chicks hatching in May 2024, a turning point after decades of absence.
Despite the initial success of the reintroduction of the species, the future of the Spix’s Macaw population remains uncertain as ongoing threats such as habitat degradation and the impact of climate change affect the Caatinga biome where the birds reside. Sustained protection of their reforested habitat and continuous community involvement are key for the species’ long-term survival in the wild. Despite the challenges, the efforts that were made aided in the bird’s survival—saving another species from complete eradication.
