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SINGAPORE, 22 November 2017 — Believed to be extinct in the wild, the
remaining 150-odd Spix’s Macaws remain under human care. Two of these precious birds will be displayed at Jurong Bird Park to raise awareness about the
threats of extinction and what is currently being done to save them. The Spix’s
Macaws will be joined by the other two remaining members of the blue macaw
family—the Lear’s Macaw and Hyacinth Macaw—in Jurong Bird Park’s revamped Parrot Paradise exhibit.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan admiring the critically endangered Spix’s Macaw at the Official Opening of Jurong Bird Park’s Parrot Paradise exhibit this morning. The opening also marks the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Singapore.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Mr Mike Barclay, Group CEO of Mandai Park Holdings, said: “As an organisation, we are committed to wildlife conservation, and we are honoured to be a part of the working groups dedicated to protecting and saving the Spix’s and Lear’s Macaws. The Brazilian government and our conservation partners entrusted Jurong Bird Park to display the complete blue macaw family so they might serve as conservation ambassadors for their species, as well as other parrots facing threats globally. We endeavour to do our best to initiate educational outreach programmes to raise awareness about blue macaws and their plight.”
With the opening, Jurong Bird Park has become the only wildlife park in the world where the public can appreciate the three remaining species of the blue macaw family at one location. The Glaucous Macaw—the last member of the blue macaw family—has not been sighted since the 1960s and is believed to be extinct.
To prepare for the blue macaws’ arrival, Jurong Bird Park spent three months sprucing up the 4,345 square metre Parrot Paradise exhibit. The blue macaw exhibits were designed with the birds’ native habitats in mind, and were created to resemble gallery woodland and sand cliffs in an arid landscape. Interactive elements like a children’s play area and educational panels have been incorporated in the exhibit to raise awareness on the threats blue macaws face and what is being done to save them.
To celebrate the official opening of the blue macaws’ exhibit at Parrot Paradise, Jurong Bird Park has launched a month-long Blue-zilian Carnival that hails all things Brazilian. Park guests will be treated to captivating Capoeira performances that combine fighting, acrobatics, music and dance rituals, as well as sensational Samba dances that energise Brazilian carnivals. Younger visitors will enjoy Brazilian game trails, as well as get the opportunity to Be a Blue Macaw keeper for a day.
Visitors can look forward to visiting the blue macaws at Jurong Bird Park’s Parrot Paradise exhibit from today. At the exhibit, visitors will also be able to learn more about the Spix’s Macaw Conservation Action Plan and Reintroduction Programme; which includes conservation breeding efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment in Brazil, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, the Association of the Conservation of Threatened Parrots, Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Fazenda Cachoeira, Parrots International, and several other partners.
Image: Avian keeper Puvaneswaran s/o Kalaichelvan feeding the critically endangered Spix's Macaw.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Image: The critically endangered Spix’s Macaw—is likely extinct in the wild with just over 150 individuals left under human care worldwide in dedicated facilities. The pair of Spix’s Macaws in Jurong Bird Park are here as Conservation Ambassadors for their species, and other parrots facing threats globally.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Image: Hyacinth macaws are the largest parrot in the world, and are classified as Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
