CONSERVATIONOF TUEKED.VENTED COCKATOOByMarcBoussekey, EEPCoordinator,EspaceZoologique,(France).

I was able to visit the Red-vented Cockatoos in the again, mainly Palawan from July Palawanese province. 12th to August 12th 1995, just after the Red-vented Cockatoo breeding Cockatoos Observed in Captivity season, to see how the Conservation Apart from about 40 Philippine Cockatoos seen at Antonio De Dios Program was going on. facility 12 more were found in Mypurpose was fourfold: private hands. . to observe some of the latest I was able to visit again the viable populations of Philippine breeding farm of Birds International Cockatoos left on Palawan Incorporated: I was allowed to see . to evaluate the local captive some of the hand-reared hatchlings population of this bird (26bred this year),two groups of . to meet our Philippine partners about 20juvenilesfrom one to two involved in the conservation years old and several of the 20 program current pairs, 10 of which are . to meet some members of the already breeding. This local captive SagipKatala("Save the Cockatoo") population is healthy and really well Movement maintained. William Oliver's superb painting of theRed-ventedCockatoohas beenusedfor I was lucky to be successful on education and fund-raising. all these points so, we decided to Our Philippine Partners Priscilla ADRIANOand Art intensify our conservation program The Sagip Katala Movement issued an official memoranda on in '96 on Palawan. PAlATINO are our major partners I was pleased to meet several Cockatoo conservation. in the Philippines: the successful Red-vented Cockatoo Flocks members of the Sagip Katala Nevertheless, three aspects can broadcast program they have Observed in the Wild Movement on 4 different places in be improved in 96: to increase the conducted from September 94 to More than 100 wild Cockatoos were the Palawanese province. awareness and participation of local March 95 (and that we sponsored) seen in the Palawanese area: 4 Interestingly, two of them were people, to make sure the nests are enabled them to organise a network flocks from 4 different localities ex-poachers: they showed me not poached, and to offer a reliable of local informants and protectors were observed in 4 different several Cockatoo nesting trees and and qualified facility for the for the Philippine Cockatoo activities. how they climbed the trunk in order confiscated birds. The problem of throughout the Palawanese to catch the hatchlings. I was the occurrenceof PBFDin the wild Flock No 1 was seen feeding in the province: the Sagip Katala forest surrounding the small village impressed by the height of these population was also discussed. So, Movement (see references). They we have decided: of Tagnipa. The birds were easily trees: they are usually the tallest of were my companions during my the area with nest holes more than . to pursue the broadcast program approached and were unafraid of field trips. All the places I visited 30 meters high!The knowledge and to set up a nest protection man since they are actively had been checked by them before these ex-poachers have on the scheme with the help of the ex- protected by the local people even if and all the people I met in the field some predation is made on the rice Cockatoos is now very useful for poachers, giving incentives to them: were members of the movement. I Priscilla and Art will submit their fields during the harvesting time. our conservation program. was really impressed by the I was guided and hosted on Flock No 2 was observed roosting tremendous work Priscilla and Art proposal at the end of September Dumaran island by one very 95. near the sea shore, on an have done in convincing villagers to uninhabited part of the island: dedicated member, Ralph CUDIllA . to build a quarantine and aviary protect the Cockatoo and poachers who is very keen to protect wildlife within the CH Wildlife Rescue again, the birds were not shy at all. to stop catching the hatchlings from on this small island off Palawan: he Flock No 3 was a bit more on the thenests. Centre: a project will be ready soon. was sure that no poaching occurs in . to initiate a PBFDresearch alert since the Cockatoos were The management staff of the feeding on the ground and were this refuge for the Cockatoo (one of program in testing not only the Crocodile Farming Institute the best: 100birds are said to live used to being chased off the corn hatchlings in the nests (Nicolas provided me with a car and a driver there). field. Interestingly, when the flock RICHET'sveterinary thesis) but also for our field trips: when you know The students of the Palawan the confiscated birds (Mundita left the place after half an hour to the difficulty of travelling perch on nearby trees, I could State University I met are very SISONLIM'sproposal) throughout Palawan on local important to spread information at I do hope we shall be able to clearly hear the very distinctive calls transport, this help was much school: they were really active raise enough funds to sponsor this the juveniles produce when they appreciated. I have had two official during the radio program. exciting program: we have now the beg for food. I could even observe meetings with the representatives of one adult regurgitating food to one Because of the good results chance to succeed in saving the Red- the Philippine government in vented Cockatoo on Palawan. young. This means there are still obtained by Priscilla ADRIANOand (Quezon City) and in Puerto Art PAlATINO with their broadcast some Cockatoo populations where Princesa in order to discuss program, the hope to save the Red- hatchlings are not poached at all. I progress and plans for Red-vented vented Cockatoo in the Palawanese The WorldParrot Trust has knew the mangrove area where I Cockatoo conservation. province is increasing, at least in the previousl~ assisted Marc watched Flock No 4 from a previous Boussekey s work with this I met again Antonio De Dios: he areas where viable populations can trip (October 92):localpeople kindly provided me with the cockatoo, by providing funds confirmed to me that Cockatoos still be found. Our Philippine towards flights. The project is detailed diet of the Philippine partners are really active and eager were observed daily. Cockatoos in his collection, the data in a very positive }Jhaseso the These observations and other to succeed. The Sagip Katala Trustees have therefore of blood analysis he performed information obtained by our local Movement numbers 40 people decided to provide $2000 locally and gave me useful involved in 5 different localities. (approx. £1300)towards a total partners indicate there are still information about the management The local government has recently requirement of $17470. some safe and viable populations of of his breeding Cockatoo group.

7 PARROTSIN TUB WILD

RED.VENTEDCOCKATOO Cacatua haematuropygia BriefreportfromMarcBoussekey,EEP Coordinatorforthisspecies:- In theSummerof 1995I wasable,onceagain,to visit Palawanin ThePhilippines,andfoundthat thereis hope of savingpopulationsof theRed-ventedCockatoo. In thefieldmorethan 100birdswereobservedin four locations,carryingout different activities:two flocks werefeeding,oneonwild seedsandthe otherona cornfield, anotherflockwasroostingatnight,andyet anotherwasseenforagingin themangrove.Thesepopulationsareno longerdisturbedby the localpeople. Regardingcockatoosseenin captivity,the colonyatAntoniodeDios'sfacility is breedingwellwith 26hatched thisyear.Thelocaltradeis slowlygoingdown,with onlythreebirds seenfor saleandsomeprivatepet owners arereadyto cooperate. OurPhilippinepartners,mainlyPriscillaAdrianoandArt Palatino,arereallyactiveonPalawan,Theyrun a weeklybroadcastprogrammeandhaveorganisedanefficientlocalnetworkof informantsandprotectors:this is calledthe 'SagipKatalaMovement',or 'Savethe Cockatoos'. Threeprojectsareplannedfor 1996onPalawan.First,to protectknownnestingplaces.Second,to build an aviaryandquarantinefacility for confiscatedcockatoos.Third, to testfor the occurrenceof PBFDin thewild population.To achievetheseaimsmorefundsarestill needed- seeour report onpage7 of this issue. Photoof tamebut free-flyingRed-ventedCockatooonPalawanby ]. Saint-PieandMarcBoussekey. We intend to continue this series of 'Parrots in the Wild', and would welcome suitable photographs from readers.

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