hey tweets,

i thought you all might be interested to read about this ....

regards,

Devorah A. N. Bennu, PhD (in transition between Seattle and NYC)
nyneve at u.washington.edu
Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow
The American Museum of Natural History, New York City
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
Love the creator? Then protect the creation.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 15:32:33 +0100

Media Release

For Immediate Publication and Broadcast, 24 September 2002


RAREST BIRD IN THE WORLD GOES HOME

Tenerife, Spain - 24 September 2002 - Today a female Spix=B4s macaw
Cyanopsitta spixii, the rarest bird in the world, will be
repatriated from Spain to its native country Brazil. This
long-tailed, all blue parrot is extinct in the wild state, but
there are now more than 60 Spix=B4s macaws in a captive breeding
programme for the recovery and eventual restoration of the
species to its natural habitat.

The recovery effort is coordinated by the Brazilian Government
Institute for Environment and Natural Renewable Resources, IBAMA,
and the priceless female macaw will be accompanied on its journey
to Brazil by Dr Iolita Bampi, General Coordinator of Fauna of
IBAMA. As part of the captive breeding and recovery programme,
this bird has been maintained on behalf of the Brazilian
Government by the Loro Parque Fundaci=F3n within its breeding
centre in Tenerife, Spain. The Fundaci=F3n, an international
conservation NGO, has been the principal funding agency for the
recovery effort to date, and several years ago returned ownership
of all Spix=B4s macaws in its possession to the Brazilian
Government. On arrival in Brazil, this female will be paired with
a carefully selected mate to improve the breeding programme. In
parallel with the strengthening of the captive population, the
crucial work of protection and restoration of the specialised
habitat of this species will continue in the north-east of
Brazil. Remarking on the importance of today=B4s transfer, Dr Bampi
said " as part of the Brazilian Government=B4s strong commitment to
biodiversity conservation, we continue our efforts to save the
Spix=B4s macaw in partnership with the Loro Parque Fundaci=F3n, and
the repatriation of this bird is practical evidence of effective
collaboration".

A further important development related to the survival of the
Spix=B4s macaw occurred during the 5th International Parrot
Convention hosted by the Loro Parque Fundaci=F3n in Tenerife on 18
to 21 September 2002. In a landmark vote of the 850 delegates to
the Convention, by a 6:1 majority they voted for the urgent
return of ownership to the Brazilian Government of the Spix=B4s
macaws currently in the possession of the few other private
holders of this species in captivity. The decisive outcome of
this vote was based on the strong belief that recovery of this
rarest of all birds will best occur with Brazilian Government
ownership and coordination of the programme. All holders would
continue to maintain and breed the macaws in their own breeding
centres on behalf of the Brazilian Government. The importance of
this vote is underlined by the fact that it represents the view
of the broadest possible range of interests in parrot aviculture,
science and conservation. Following the vote, Mr Wolfgang
Kiessling, President of the Fundaci=F3n remarked " the Loro Parque
Fundaci=F3n has a deep commitment to the survival of the Spix=B4s
macaw, an emblem for the rest of nature, and the result of this
vote is clear evidence that the majority of aviculturists and
conservationists believe this species will be best restored to
nature with all birds in the ownership of the Brazilian
Government".



--
Yves de Soye

Director
Loro Parque Fundacion

38400 Puerto de la Cruz
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Spain
T: +34 922 374081 / 373841 (ext.283)
Mob: +34 639 372966
F: +34 922 375021
E: dir.cientifica at loroparque-fundacion.org
URL: www.loroparque-fundacion.org
URL: www.loroparque.com