- Title: MEXICO: Macaw reserve is on a mission to save parrots
- Date: 15th October 2009
- Summary: SAN JOSE DEL CHILAR, CUICATLAN OAXACA, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) MACAWS PERCHED IN TREE MACAWS FLYING IN SKY VARIOUS OF PATH THAT LEADS TO THE CANYON OF THE MACAW BANNER THAT READS: "Path of the Macaws - Biosphere Reserve Tehuacan-Cuicatlan" MACAWS FLYING AND LANDING ON TREE TOPS MACAW FEEDING MACAWS HAPPILY SQUAWKING ON TREE TOPS MACAW PERCHED ON TREE BRANCH HUT FARMER SEEN THROUGH HUT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL FARMER, PORFIRO SANCHEZ, SAYING "They breed in a canyon called, El Canon del Sabino (The Canyon of Sabino) and when they return they come with their chicks. When we see three of them they (parents) are accompanied by the chicks." CANYON OF THE MACAWS MACAWS FLYING VARIOUS OF BIOLOGIST HECTOR AGUILAR TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BIOLOGIST HECTOR AGUILAR, SAYING "After eight years working in conservation efforts, we are managing a little over 125 to 129 macaws which means that although we are registering between 10 to 14 chicks each year, not all of them manage to survive and their recovery rate has been very slow." MACAWS IN TREE MACAW SEEN ON TREE BRANCH / SQUAWKING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BIOLOGIST HECTOR AGUILAR, SAYING "We don't have records of a larger population in Mexico. We have other places such as Jalisco where 100 macaws have been reported and towards South America, but numbers have not been higher (anywhere else)." MACAWS IN TREE MACAWS FLYING SUNSET
- Embargoed: 30th October 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Nature / Environment
- Reuters ID: LVADP32GNJ801WUA7HE5H0Z1C1S8
- Story Text: Military macaws threatened by illegal poachers and land invaders who slash and burn their jungle habitat in Mexico now have scientists and local farmers watching out for them in the southern state of Oaxaca.
In 2001, biologists sponsored by the National Forest Commission began a project called "Biosphere Reserve Tehuacan-Cuicatlan," covering an area of 490,817 hectares in San Jose del Chilar, Cuicatlan, in the north-western region of Oaxaca state.
In the afternoon, it is common to see macaws majestically flying in the wild above a canyon named after the noisy green, red and blue-plumed parrots.
Authorities hope to convert the area into an ecological park, where mainly local farmers will help to protect the species. Local farmers are prepared to help in conservation efforts by hoping earn a living by attracting bird watchers and ecological tourism.
"They breed in a canyon called, El Canon del Sabino (The Canyon of Sabino) and when they return they come with their chicks. When we see three of them they (parents) are accompanied by the chicks," said local farmer, Porfiro Sanchez.
The macaws, which often stay with one mate for life and have low reproduction rates, are in danger of being wiped out in Mexico as thousands of acres of forest are cut down.
Poachers rob chicks from their nests and can sell them for hundreds of dollars on the black market to buyers who want them as pets.
Since the project began, scientists have been able to increase healthy macaw numbers from 96 to 129 but biologist Hector Aguilar insists there is still a lot to be done.
"After eight years working in conservation efforts, we are managing a little over 125 to 129 macaws which means that although we are registering between 10 to 14 chicks each year, not all of them manage to survive and their recovery rate has been very slow."
The goal for the next five years is to provide prime conditions for their reproduction and push numbers up to 250 in the region.
Aguilar said this will be possible by protecting the parrots' habitat and their main source of food, a plant called Bocarnea, known in Mexico as 'Pata de elefante" (Elephant's foot).
Aguilar said macaw numbers were dwindling around the country but is optimistic with numbers registered in Oaxaca.
"We don't have records of a larger population in Mexico. We have other places such as Jalisco where 100 macaws have been reported and towards South America, but numbers have not been higher (anywhere else)."
There may be only 400 macaws left in Mexico's nature reserve, mainly in the states of Jalisco, Oaxaca, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi. Mexico is home to sprawling Aztec, Mayan and Mixtec ruins and diverse wildlife including giant anteaters, Mexican badgers and the elusive jaguar.
The indigenous population in this region consider the military macaw as a messenger from God due to it's loud squawking sound during flight and while perched on tree tops. Feathers dropped by macaws are still used in religious rituals.
Macaws are also found in isolated populations across Central America and in the Amazon basin and it is illegal to take them from the wild. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None