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Loro Parque, Tenerife by Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt, Curator, Loro Parque Tenerife
September 2007 and in the middle of August the first young foster parents, a pair of Green-winged Macaw We announce a great breeding success with fledged, which was being raised by its fos- (Ara chloroptera), the third of the youngsters is our Plum-crowned Parrots (Pionus tumultuo- ter parents, a pair of Green-winged Macaws still being cared for by its own parents in the sus). Two chicks of this rarely kept parrot (Ara chloroptera). Now the youngster is flying nesting cavity. The first youngster is already species are being raised at the moment in around in its aviary in an oriented way and eating by itself, however still begging from his the Baby Station of Loro Parque. This parrot shows the typical natural fear which parent- foster parents for an extra portion of food. The species, with origin of the nominate race reared chicks exhibit. Again and again the second youngster, which fledged some days in Bolivia to central Peru, doesn’t count as “blue” young bird is seeking protection with its ago, is flying around but still dependent on the an endangered bird species. However, forest parents, which are taking care of it perfectly, care and the provisioning of its foster parents. clearance in the Andes can be the main cause although it looks totally different from them, Despite of the different plumage colour of of a decline and this is why it is important not least that its size is notably smaller than its the young Lear’s Macaws, the Green-winged to establish a corresponding safety net and foster parents. Also the other chicks are devel- Macaws accept their youngsters without any genetic reserve in captivity. oping well, where one is being raised by a hesitation. Until now, the third youngster further pair of Green-winged Macaws and the didn’t show at the entrance to the box. other by its own parents. Now, they both have However, we are expecting him to fledge the first blue feathers. However, they still need during the next few days, leaving the nesting some more weeks until they will take their first cavity for the first time. flight out into the aviaries.
During the first week of September, a team from the German television channel VOX came again to Loro Parque to take footage for the series “Menschen, Tiere, Doktoren” (People, Animals, Doctors). In this daily broadcast series, Loro Parque is a regular subject. High audience rating induced the TV channel to continue this series until at least mid-2008. Until now there have been over 60 broadcastings recorded in Loro Parque for this more than one year-old German series. The biologists and veterinar- Two Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao) and two Blue- Young Lear’s Macaw in its aviary ians of Loro Parque are pleased to introduce throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis) in their breeding bins in the Baby-station of Loro Parque This year, our Slender-billed Conures (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) haven’t showed After a breeding pause of several years, this the same success as in the last years. Only one year the breeding of a Lesser Vasa Parrot female of the group intended for breeding (Coracopsis nigra) succeeded. These parrots, laid eggs, and only one of the three eggs was which are bred very rarely in captivity, have a success. This chick is now growing fine with raised their single youngster by themselves. its parents. Now he has fledged and is very difficult to distinguish from the parents. Especially strik- ing was the potent noise during the rearing After a longer breeding pause, we are cur- German TV-channel film team together with rently raising two Green Conures (Aratinga Loro Parque curator Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt period. Over and over again a kind of strong holochlora). The parents are undertaking their “singing” by the adults could be heard; the breeding and rearing activities well, so that the audience to the world behind the scenes, tones not being the usual parrot vocalization, help has not been necessary. and to report on their daily work with the ani- but rather melodic in their sequence. mals. These programmes are naturally focus- ing on the parrots, the daily work with them in Apart from the above, the breeding period has the Baby-Station and the clinic, as well as the waned and there are only some latecomers monitoring and the peek into the breeding breeding at present. Thus there are currently centre of Loro Parque Fundación, normally not growing, among others, three young Chestnut- open to the public. In this way the spectator is fronted Macaws (Ara severa), some Scarlet able to see a Spix´s or a Lear´s Macaw directly, Macaws (Ara macao) and Blue and Yellow but also useful tricks for their own parrot col- Macaws (Ara ararauna) as well as numerous lection and breeding. Blue-throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis).
Young Lear’s Macaw in its aviary together with its That the Loro Parque Fundación has dedi- foster parents, a pair of Green-winged Macaws October 2007 Now the second youngster of the three young cated itself to share new and little-known Naturally our three Lear’s Macaws Lear’s Macaws (Anadorhynchus leari) has also knowledge about parrots is not only proven (Anodorhynchus leari) are giving us very much fledged. All three of them are prospering well. by the numerous publications of its scientific pleasure. All three of them are growing well, While two of them have been raised by the staff every year in several professional journals, books and congresses, but also directly on site
46 Volume XXXIV • Number 4 • 2007 News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights • News Highlights
with the training of students and trainees. So the orcas astonish the spectators with their (Probosciger aterrimus) normally opens the far a group of 26 students of the Justus-Liebig- intelligence and power. breeding season at the beginning of the year, University of Giessen (Germany) spent two but this time they already started breeding at weeks as invited guests at Loro Parque. A speciality of Loro Parque is certainly, besides the end of November, most probably because the diversity of species, the quality and the in- of the lasting beautiful autumn in Tenerife. The prospective veterinarians have been frastructure, as well as the commitment to the trained during several presentations and dis- conservation of the environment, every depart- courses held by the biologists and veterinari- ment and every detail in the park being devel- ans in different fields of the zoo biology as well oped in harmony with nature. This is the reason as veterinary medicine. Apart from the hours why many of the installations of Loro Parque of theory, the practical part didn’t come out count amongst the best concerning quality, too short as the students got the opportunity technological innovation or professionalism. to participate directly in the separate depart- Loro Parque has been awarded several times ments such as the parrot breeding centre with diverse national and international prizes. and baby-station, the clinic, penguin house, Amongst these are the Award of Excellence” dolphinarium and aquarium. For more than from the British tour operator Thomson, the 20 years now, this collaboration has existed “Premio al turismo” from the Chamber of Com- between the University of Giessen, always led merce of Tenerife, as well as the acclaimed Aviaries for the Spix’s Macaws in the new by Prof. Dr. E. Kaleta, and Loro Parque. “Internationale Umwelt Preis” (International En- breeding centre of Loro Parque Fundación vironmental Price) from “World of TUI”. Addition- December 2007 ally, the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism of Only one egg is produced in each clutch, and This has been a symbolic month of the 35th Spain honoured Loro Parque for its “tourist earn- for security reasons, after four days the egg was anniversary of Loro Parque. On the 17th of ings” with a gold medal, and as only Canarian taken out and put into an incubator for artifi- December 1972 Loro Parque opened its gates enterprise for its outstanding business perfor- cial incubation. Several weeks later, (between for the first time. In those days it only had an mance with the renowned “Prince Felipe Prize”. four and six) the female normally proceeds to area of 13,000 m², and only showed parrots. lay a second clutch. The egg in the incubator From the original purely parrot park, today’s Loro Parque also offers an ample botanical ex- was revealed on examination as fertile, and is Loro Parque with its 135,000 m², is one of perience, and unique attractions and impres- developing perfectly. Europe’s leading zoos and a principal magnet sive architecture again and again enthuse the for tourism in the Canary Islands , now having visitors. But the most important task of Loro From the 31st of December 2007 to the 10th received 34 million visitors. Parque is in familiarizing the visitors with ani- of January 2008 at 5 pm every workday, ten mals, the environment and their habitat. Loro new programme about Loro Parque will be Parque is like a window to nature; a message shown in the series “People, Animals and Doc- to contribute to conservation and the beauty tors” on the German TV channel VOX . This is of our planet. the unique chance for the spectators to gain an insight into the daily work of the biologists Meanwhile, the new breeding centre for the and veterinarians with the animals. To date, Spix’s Macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii) located on over 60 programmes of the successful series of the grounds of the Loro Parque Fundación has Loro Parque and Loro Parque Fundación have now been put into operation. Four huge aviar- already been produced, and as the series is ies for the keeping and breeding of Spix’s Ma- continuing until at least the middle of the year caws are available. The installation will be ac- 2008, at least further 20 series from the Loro cessible by the keepers only through a system Parque are planned. for a change of cloths and disinfection before entering the installation. The aviaries are cov- Entrance to the new breeding centre for Spix’s ered with a closed-mesh black net in order to Macaws of Loro Parque Fundación avoid any penetration from outside by the likes The figurehead of Loro Parque is still the larg- of wild pigeons or birds of prey. The trees and est and most diverse parrot collection that bushes planted all around the aviaries offer a has ever existed worldwide, with its 3,500 par- diversified and natural-like environment for the rots of 350 species and subspecies. However, macaws. The centre is provided inside and out other zoological highlights have joined them, with video cameras which function, apart from such as the world’s biggest penguin house, the security of the birds, to gain an insight into Europe’s biggest group of gorilla males, an the behaviour of the birds. With this new breed- aquarium with a shark tunnel, a dolphinarium, ing centre, Loro Parque Fundación is creating a sea lion show, as well as our youngest at- better conditions for breeding and maintaining traction, Orca Ocean . For the latter, four orcas the Spix’s Macaws, in order to make a further born in Seaworld USA have been transferred important contribution to the conservation of to the installations in Loro Parque , which pro- this parrot species extinct in the wild. Breeding female Palm Cockatoo vide 3,000 seats for a spectacular show where The reliable breeding pair of Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger atterimus)
AFA Watchbird 47 48 Volume XXXIV • Number 4 • 2007 NPRPF THE PARROT FESTIVAL FOLKS
FESTIVAL 2009 January 23,24,25 www.parrotfestival.org
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