The challenge of managing Spix Macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii) at Qatar - an eleven-year retrospectionErfahrungsbericht über 11 Jahre Haltung und Zucht des Spix-Ara (Cyanopsitta spixii) in der Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Katar
Introduction
The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) may not be the largest or most colorful macaw species but it is one of the most critically endangered parrots in the world with no known wild specimens remaining (IUCN, 2004). The last remaining bird was last seen on October 5th 2000 and is thought to have died of natural cause as by this stage he was older than 20 years. The species is therefore considered to be extinct in the wild but cannot be classified as extinct until all areas of potential habitat have been thoroughly surveyed. The Spix's macaw is endemic to the state of Bahia, which is located in the north-east of Brazil. There they inhabit a great expanse of semi-arid territory known as the Caatinga.
Currently there are approximately 87 individual Spix's macaws in captivity. 75 of these are participating in an international breeding program managed by the Institute Chico Mendes of present 55 of these birds are housed at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP), State of Qatar where also the international studbook of the species is kept since 2005.
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Acquisition and Population History
The Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation first became involved in Spix's macaw conservation in the year 2000, with the acquisition of two pairs of birds from Birds International Incorporated (BII), Philippines. Over the next four years, a further 25 birds were received from BII as well as 15 birds from a Swiss private aviculturist. One additional pair was under AWWP management in Switzerland, with the previous owner retaining ownership. AWWP successfully bred two Spix's chicks from this pair in 2004.
Breeding Results
AWWP first had Spix's macaw eggs in 2003 and from then until August 2011 we have had 16 females’ lay 291 eggs from 84 clutches (Fig. 5). Only 46 eggs from eight females have developed a visible embryo, of which 28 have hatched from 7 pairs. They have all been successfully reared. The 18 eggs, which didn’t go on to hatch, died at different stages of development, with several of the chicks, which died at a late stage being quite seriously deformed. One chick, which did successfully hatch after
Diet and Nutrition
Currently we are satisfied with the diets we feed to the Spix's macaws as they have been continually refined based on the latest understandings of parrot nutrition, and in consultation with nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians. The birds are fed twice per day with a carefully measured offering of soft foods (boiled seeds, beans and pulses, sprouted seeds, nuts, fruit and vegetables) in the morning and parrot pellets (Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine®) in the afternoon. The parrot pellets are
Housing and Behavioural Enrichment
There are currently 5 facilities housing Spix's Macaws, 2 for breeding pairs (Fig. 2), 2 for non-breeding birds and 1 for flocking young birds (Fig. 3). The first of the 2 breeding facilities was completed in early 2005 and comprises of 10 aviaries. The second breeding facility was completed in early 2007. The facility for non-breeding Spix was a pre-existing breeding facility for parrots in general, which has been used for Spix since 2006. This facility comprises of 21 aviaries, split into
Health Management and Behavioural Problems
Since 2004, annual health checks have been performed so that AWWP have a better understanding of every individual bird's health status, as well as an epidemiological view of the overall population health. The health check program involves disease testing, microbiology, parasitology, hematology (Foldenauer et al., 2007), radiography and a physical assessment that includes endoscope examination of vital organs and gonad. From the health check results, a two year ranking system (group health risk
Scientific Research
Since the Spix's macaw is a major focal species at AWWP and is difficult to successfully breed, we conduct various lines of scientific research to better understand the problems in order to find solutions to move the species away from the brink of extinction.
The University of Sao Paulo's (USP) contribution to the Spix's macaw recovery program is their free analysis of blood samples; from which they map microsatellite markers in the DNA to form a genetic fingerprint. The results are used to
Outlook and Future Plans
With no doubt, the reproduction of more Spix's macaws is the key point for the future of the species. The ability of F2 generation birds to produce offspring will define the future of the species (Fig. 7). AWWP has had more than 290 eggs, but only 28 chicks hatched. We have 100% hand-rearing success with these 28 chicks but a less than 10% viability of all laid eggs is frustrating. To our knowledge we think that the housing, the nutrition, the veterinary care and the nursery protocol are
Zusammenfassung
Der Spix-Ara (Cyanopsittaspixii) ist weder der größte noch der farbenprächtigste Vertreter der Familie der Psittacidae. Allerdings ist er der bedrohteste Papagei der Welt (IUCN 2004), denn seit der letzte freilebende Vogel am 05.10.2000 zum letzten Mal gesichtet wurde, gilt der Spix-Ara inoffiziell als ausgestorben in freier Wildbahn. Die offizielle Erhebung in diesen Status kann allerdings erst vorgenommen werden nachdem das potenzielle Verbreitungsgebiet sorgfältig nach noch eventuell
Acknowledgement
We thank Sheikh Saoud bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani, owner of Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, for his continuous support and his vision, without which neither our work nor the Spix's macaw project would exist.
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