Text released by Parrots International, February 2007
The Spix's Macaw, Ara Spixii, has been extinct in the
wild since the last solitary male disappeared from the Melancia Creek watershed
south of
These organizations
have unequivocally demonstrated their desire to see the future reintroduction
of the Spix's to its historical habitat. Parrots International serves as a
consultant to the Working Group for the Recovery of the Spix's Macaw, dedicated
to the return of the Spix's Macaw to its historical habitat.
In August of 2006
Parrots International volunteers, Mark and Marie Stafford, self-financed a
research trip to the historical habitat of the Spix's Macaws near
Parrots International introduced the idea of the purchase
of Gangorra Farm to the Working Group for the Recovery of the Spix's
Macaw, held at the Sao Paulo Zoo in November of 2006. The Working Group for the
Spix's Macaw, a consultant group to IBAMA, consists of the foremost
parrot conservation experts; the Spix's Macaw holders; and involved
conservation organizations. At the meeting of the Working Group, we proposed
the formation of a group of partners to purchase Gangorra. It is this
partnership that was ultimately responsible for the negotiations,
funding and purchase of the Gangorra farm for the future reintroduction of the
Spix's Macaw into the wild.
On Valentine's Day, 2007, the historical Spix's
habitat of Gangorra Farm, totally 400 hectares (1000 acres), was purchased by
the partnership of Parrots International, ACTP (
The partnership would gladly accept additional partners to move
forward with the habitat restoration of Gangorra and construction of the
permanent Spix's Field Station.
This Gangorra Farm
is home to the last Spix's nest in the wild (see above) and is ideal habitat
for the prospective reintroduction of Spix's Macaws into their historical
habitat.
We therefore wish to
share "The Dream" of the reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw back into
the wild with any and all.