Brazil's Last Wild Blue Macaws Infected with Lethal Virus, Conservation Efforts in Jeopardy
Image Source: Internet
Brazil's conservation efforts have hit a devastating roadblock as the country's only remaining wild Spix's macaws have tested positive for a lethal, incurable virus. The disease, caused by circovirus, has already claimed the lives of many of the birds that were reintroduced to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil in 2020. The Spix's macaw, a species featured in the animated film 'Rio,' was declared extinct in the wild 25 years ago. However, thanks to a conservation program, 20 birds were released into the wild, with only 11 surviving. The remaining survivors have now been infected with the virus, which causes beak and feather disease in parrots. Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the virus, which poses no danger to humans. The Brazilian government has also taken action against the BlueSky breeding center, fining it 1.8 million reais for failing to implement biosafety protocols. The breeding center, which is a partner of the German Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots, has been accused of selling birds to private collectors without consent. The sale of captive-bred Spix's macaws has been a major concern for Brazil, which has repeatedly raised issues at CITES meetings over loopholes in the global wildlife trade regulator. The infection of the wild Spix's macaws has raised concerns over the future of the species, which is one of the world's rarest birds. The conservation efforts to save the Spix's macaw are a high-stakes drama, marked by concerns over unscrupulous breeders and sales to private collectors.
