Great Green Macaw Fund

Great Green Macaw populations reduced by half in last 50 years

In its native Central America the loss of its vital deciduous forest have reduced the Great Green Macaw’s (Ara ambiguus) population to double figures in Costa Rica and to zero in much of its historic range. This bird relies on the large Almendro tree for nesting, which are being lost to logging. BirdLife International states that global populations have been reduced by half over the past 50 years – this is due to heavy deforestation, the wild bird trade and subsistence hunting.

In 2010, the World Parrot Trust partnered with the ARA Project, which captive breeds various species of macaw for release into the wild, at their breeding centre in Rio Segundo de Alajuela. The first-ever release of Great Greens was in August of 2011. The purpose of this project is to:

• aid in confiscation of macaws
• rescue and rehabilitate injured birds
• keep in flocks to encourage pairing for mating
• release to the wild when fully ready

More macaws will be released in the future when it is determined how the first ones fare. In past years WPT funded Dr. David Waugh's survey of the Great Green Macaw in Ecuador. The World Parrot Trust is also supporting solid conservation work in Costa Rica that is supervised by Guisselle Monge Arias and Olivier Chassot.

Visit the WPT website to learn more about the important work being done to save this species.