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Spix’s Macaws Arrive in Brazil in Another Historic Milestone for Species Conservation

February 3, 2025

Petrolina, January 29, 2025 – At 6:40 PM on January 28, an aircraft carrying 41 Spix’s macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii) from Berlin, Germany, landed at Petrolina International Airport in Brazil. This operation was coordinated through an international partnership between the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP), the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (GZRRC) which is part of Vantara in India, and BlueSky, with support from IBAMA, ICMBio, the Federal Revenue Service, the Federal Police, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), the Agricultural Defense Agency of Pernambuco (ADAGRO), and CCR Airports.

The birds arrived in good health, accompanied by veterinarians from ACTP and Vantara’s GZRRC, ensuring that the entire logistics process was conducted safely and with minimal stress to the animals. Upon arrival in Brazil, they underwent a thorough inspection by the Federal Police, Federal Revenue Service, MAPA, ADAGRO, and IBAMA.

A local veterinary team was already on standby at IF Sertão to oversee a careful reception process, adhering to all sanitary protocols and prioritizing the comfort and adaptation of the birds to their new environment.

For Ugo Vercillo, Director of BlueSky, this operation represents another crucial step in preserving the species. “The arrival of these new macaws reinforces our commitment to continuing the scheduled releases under the Species

Reintroduction Project, strengthening efforts to prevent another extinction of the Spix’s macaw and consolidating its population in the wild in the Caatinga biome,” he stated.

With this latest transfer, a total of 101 birds have been sent by ACTP to the Release Centre in Curaçá. In other words, ACTP sent to the Release Centre one third of the Spix’s Macaw Population. Dr. Cromwell Purchase, Director of ACTP in Brazil, emphasized the commitment of ACTP for the future. “Our commitment is to send birds to Brazil every year as long as we can continue to reintroduce Spix’s macaws.”

The Spix’s macaw was declared extinct in the wild in 2000 after decades of illegal poaching and habitat degradation. Thanks to international cooperation between breeding centers, zoos, and the Brazilian government, the species has been bred in captivity, allowing its gradual reintroduction into the Caatinga biome.

In 2020, a group of 52 macaws arrived in Brazil, marking the beginning of the reintroduction project. In 2022, 20 of these birds were released into the wild in Curaçá (BA). Since then, conservation efforts have shown promising results: seven chicks have been born in the wild, highlighting the success of the adaptation of the reintroduced individuals and paving the way for the species’ consolidation in nature. As is natural in the wild, some birds have been predated, and today, 11 individuals are living freely.

Since 2023, the Spix’s release project has the support of Vantara’s GZRRC and its expert assisted on the birds transfer to Brazil. Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta, Director of the Vantara’s GZRRC explained the role of his organization on the partnership: “Vantara’s GZRRC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, treatment, and lifelong care of wild animals saved from dire conditions, as well as the rehabilitation and reintroduction of endangered species into their native ecosystems. Through evidence-based conservation strategies and global collaborations, we actively contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. It is an honor to be in Brazil, applying our expertise and resources to support this groundbreaking initiative and aid in the restoration of the Spix’s macaw population in the wild”.

The cooperation with Vantara’s GZRRC in India has been crucial in expanding conservation efforts. The logistical support provided by the Indian center has facilitated new strategies for captive breeding and international bird transport, ensuring the continuity of the Spix’s macaw reintroduction project.

About the Spix’s Macaw Reintroduction Project

Initiated in collaboration with national and international institutions, the project serves as a successful example of global cooperation in saving a species from extinction. After being declared extinct in the wild, the Spix’s macaw is gradually returning to its natural habitat, a triumph that reflects the power of science and unified conservation efforts.

About BlueSky

BlueSky is a company committed to environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Caatinga biome. Through technology and innovation, it has already restored more than 300 hectares of degraded land and aims to reforest 50,000 hectares in the coming years. Directly contributing to the Spix’s Macaw Reintroduction Project.

Through reforestation, environmental education, and community engagement, BlueSky promotes actions that benefit fauna, flora, and local communities, standing as a key ally in Caatinga conservation and the fight against climate change.