Article on numbers of Spix's Macaw in captivity

by Nelson KAWALL. Published in the September/October 1999 issue of Atualidades Ornitológicas.

The Portuguese text is followed by an English translation.

O Sr. Nelson Kawall revela sua vivência e registra a memória da sua passagem pela fascinante história da ararinha-azul (Cyanopsitta spixii), hoje com apenas um exemplar livre na natureza. Ele conta os exemplares que viu: 2 com o Sr. Santos Bertholo, 2 no Zoo do Rio de Janeiro, 2 no Sr. Álvaro Cavalhaes, 2 no Sr. Lourenzo Blanco, 2 do Sr. Ulisses Moreira, 7 com o Dr. Humberto Ferreira (das quais 4 foram enviadas para Europa), 2 com o Major Noel, 2 do Sr. Victorio Blanc, 2 do Sr. Paulo Sérgio, 2 da Avex, 2 do Sr. José Canaes, 2 do Sr. José Machado, 4 do Sr. João Alberto, 5 do Zoo de São Paulo, 3 do Sr. Pedro Callado (que foram para Europa), 2 do Sr. Mauricio Ferreira e 3 do Sr. Flávio Moraes. Ele viu ainda na Europa 2 no Loro Parque, 5 no Sr. Hammerli (Suíça), 8 (sendo 5 filhotes) no Sr. De Dios e 1 no Walsrode Park (Alemanha). Somando tudo: 64 indivíduos. E faz o balanço: criadas em cativeiro 23 ararinhas-azuis (14 do Sr. Álvaro Carvalhaes, 3 do Sr. Hammerli, 5 do Sr. De Dios e 1 no Loro Parque); capturadas na natureza (64-23): 41 exemplares. E conclui que da criação do Comitê Permanente para Recuperação da Ararinha-azul, quando existiam apenas 24 indivíduos, até hoje (perto de 60), foi dado um salto encorajador e quase determinante de uma nova política de preservação e que o Comitê precisa repensar seus novos caminhos.

Website translation

Nelson Kawall speaks of his experiences and records for posterity the fascinating story of the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), of which there is today only one specimen in the wild. He tallies the specimens he has seen: 2 with Santos Bertholo, 2 in the zoo in Rio de Janeiro, 2 with Álvaro Cavalhaes, 2 with Lourenzo Blanco, 2 with Ulisses Moreira, 7 with Dr. Humberto Ferreira (of which 4 were sent to Europe), 2 with Major Noel, 2 with Victorio Blanc, 2 with Paulo Sérgio, 2 at Avex, 2 with José Canaes, 2 with José Machado, 4 with João Alberto, 5 at the zoo in São Paulo, 3 with Pedro Callado (which were sent to Europe), 2 with Mauricio Ferreira and 3 with Flávio Moraes. He saw in Europe as well 2 at Loro Parque, 5 with Dr.Hammerli (Switzerland), 8 (including 5 young) with De Dios (Philippines) and 1 at Walsrode Park (Germany). Altogether 64 individuals. Taking stock, 23 Spix's Macaws have been bred in captivity, 14 by Álvaro Carvalhaes, 3 by Dr. Hammerli, 5 by De Dios and 1 at Loro Parque); 41 specimens were taken from the wild (64 minus23). He concludes that with the creation of the Permanent Committee for the Recovery of the Spix's Macaw, when there were only 24 individuals - today almost 60 - a great encouraging step has been taken, virtually setting a new policy for conservation, but also that the Committee needs to consider very carefully where it goes from here.

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Quotes

 " Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret "

( If you drive out nature with a pitchfork, she will soon find a way back)

Horace (65-8 BC)