Dear Parrots magazine,
The Spix’s threat
I read with great dismay in the September issue about the problem with the Spix’s Macaw reintroduction project. I have been following the story of this project for many years with the ups and downs, but have been pleased to see amazing progress that has been made in recent years with continued success. But to see there is now a dispute with the programme that is putting the whole project under threat is extremely sad and worrying.
I have never been clear in my mind why the Spix’s Macaw came to be extinct in the wild, as I don’t remember reading much about habitat loss and poaching although suspect poaching and trafficking has no doubt been a significant part. I also know that there have been harpy eagles in the Spix’s habitat that have probably been quite a problem.
But whatever the reason, it is so important to reintroduce these very rare species back into their natural habitats with the proviso that any threats that have been responsible for their demise in the past have been removed or significantly reduced. It would be a tragedy if to reintroduce the Spix’s back into the wild, only to see the same threats appear that had sealed their fate in the first place.
I’ve always found the Spix’s to be very endearing and I can see why many parrot lovers are attracted to them although that is just my view. I think they are wonderful looking macaws and I do really hope that this dispute can be overcome and that all the fantastic work that has been done to get them back where they should be is not lost, as that will be an unmitigated tragedy.
Audrey Millington, by email