Dr. David Waugh, formerly Director of Loro Parque Fundación and now Correspondent for the Fundación, wrote this very interesting article for Parrots magazine. It deals with the problem caused by the expanding Lear´s Macaw population in Bahia foraging in the maize plantations of small local farmers. The farmers grow the crop to feed their families and sell any surplus for additional income. The Lear´s Macaws forage in the maize plantations because of the lack of their normal foodstuff such as the palm nuts of the licuri palm. Unfortunately the farmers´ livestock, particularly goats, eat the saplings of the licuri palm and other vegetation. Some 10 years ago the Corn Replacement Project was set up to assess the damage and compensate the farmers with vouchers to exchange for maize so they did not shoot the macaws. This is, however, clearly not a long term solution. David Waugh´s article explains the situation in depth.
Articles
Latest News
-
Saturday 17th December 2022
Annual Activity Report 2021-2 of the Hyacinth Macaw Institute
I received the Annual Activity report for 2021-2 of the Hyacinth Macaw Institute (Instituto Arara Azul) this morning, which makes impressive reading. Neiva Guedes and her team are really doing a great job in the Pantanal in conservation of the Hya ... Read More »
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)