Cape Parrot Project

Unsustainable exploitation puts Cape Parrot at risk

Although the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) is listed by IUCN as having a large range the species has undergone a population collapse over the last 50 – 100 years. Cape Parrots are recognized as Critically Endangered in South Africa with only 1,000 to 1,500 parrots remaining in the wild.

The destruction and degradation of forest habitats, shooting of birds near agricultural areas and trapping for the wild bird trade have further hastened the decline of this species. Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) has also been found in wild flocks, and is a great threat to these parrots.

In 1998 WPT began sending funds to be used to help biologist Mike Perrin with on-going conservation work for the Cape Parrot. This and work with Dr. Steve Boyes has increased the species' profile. Since then, WPT has helped to:

• Erect 100 nest boxes in the Afromontane mixed yellowwood mistbelt forest along the Amathole mountain range
• Conduct aerial and ground surveys of forest condition, resource abundance and fruiting phenology throughout their Eastern Cape range
• Study the feeding behaviour of Cape Parrots in the wild over 36 months
• Identify annual periods when Cape Parrots are vulnerable to capture
• Protect and possibly provide supplementary feeding to wild breeding pairs at nest cavities during breeding season
• Study 100 Cape Parrots over 36 months for PBFD testing, blood screening, and DNA archiving (for trade regulation)
• Mount small GPS dataloggers linked into the cellphone network onto 30 Cape Parrots to monitor their movements
• Support the objectives of the Cape Parrot Working Group in the Eastern Cape

Why we need your help?

Your support will help the WPT and the Cape Parrot Endangered Species Project (CAPES) to aid the birds and secure their long-term survival.

To learn more about efforts to save the Cape Parrot, visit: www.parrots.org/projects/cape_parrot.