Captive Husbandry Management of the Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation Blue Macaw Coordinator by Ryan Watson with Simon Jenson, former Curator of Birds and Dr. Sven Hammer, Director of Wildlife & Veterinary Service bstract Introduction The Lear’s Macaw is a critically endangered The Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) is the Aspecies which suffered greatly at the hands closest living relative of the Hyacinth Macaw of wildlife traffickers, angry farmers and altered (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) and bears a habitat. Their wild population was thought at one close physical resemblance. The two species do point to number less than 200 individuals (Gilardi, however have major ecological differences. The 2001), but the discovery of a second previously Lear’s Macaw occurs in a relative dry environment unknown population and tighter protection in in the North-eastern Brazilian State of Bahia. the field has led to a substantial increase and Their preferred habitat type consists of mostly low today there is estimated to be 600 plus wild birds scrub of, in particular, spiny and hostile looking (CEMAVE, 2006). Although the species is much plants. Preliminary field research indicates that more secure today then they were ten years ago, they have developed a close affinity to a specific they are still highly conservation dependant and a plant, the Licuri palm (Syagrus coronata) (Brandt & lot of work is still required to ensure their long-term Machado, 1990). Narrow diet specialization is rare survival. Part of the conservation action for the in parrots and obviously causes the birds to be species is to establish a healthy and genetically more vulnerable because of their dependence on viable captive population from birds which have the availability of their food source. Additionally, been seized from traffickers and birds which have Lear’s Macaws strongly favor semi-communal been rescued after being shot and injured by angry roosting and nesting in cavities in sandstone farmers trying to protect their corn plantations cliffs, which is also unusual among parrots. from raiding Lear’s Macaws. Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation is home to four pairs of wild caught Today the known roosting and breeding sites are Lear’s Macaws that were seized at an airport in limited to just two; Serra Branca and Toca Velha. the United Arab Emirates and subsequently sent Tthe species is listed as critically endangered on to Qatar for care and housing. The ownership the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2004) but is most likely of these birds was returned to the Brazilian to be listed to endangered status as a result of Government and they along with AWWP were to the substantial recent increase in population size be included in the INSTITUTO BRASILEIRO DO (De Soye, pers com). A census conducted in 2001 MEIO AMBIENTE E DOS RECURSOS NATURAIS placed the estimated wild population at only 246 RENOVÁVEIS (IBAMA) studbook managed captive birds (Nascimento et el, 2001) but the population breeding program. After eight years, AWWP finally has now increased to more then 600 individuals achieved breeding success in mid 2006, with the (CEMAVE, 2006). successful hatching of a female off-spring; the first chick bred in the entire IBAMA managed program The primary food source, the Licuri nut, is highly and the first official captive breeding of a Lear’s nutritious but also extremely hard to open; Macaw in 22 years. however, Lear’s Macaws have adapted well to 108 2007 Proceedings their Licuri rich environment and handle the hard Additional member institutions participating in nut with relative ease and efficiency. The birds the recovery effort are the zoos of Rio de Janeiro perform daily migrations between feeding grounds and Sao Paulo, and more recently also the Crax and their roosting and nesting sites, traveling and Lymington Foundation in Brazil. Four Lear’s considerable distances and most frequently Macaws arrived at the Loro Parque Foundation arriving back from feeding in almost complete in the Canary Islands early in November 2006, darkness (Brandt & Machado, 1990). It would becoming the first Lear’s Macaws to be officially appear that they have developed unusually good exported out of Brazil. It is possible that four night vision for a primarily diurnal species. Lear’s Macaws will leave Brazil, this time destined for the breeding facilities of the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) In the Aviary located in Schoneiche, Germany. Furthermore, Lear’s Macaws are exceptionally rare in captivity, three birds confiscated in the United Kingdom causing them to be a popular target for poachers in 1998 are currently held at Harewood Bird- who trap birds for the illegal aviary market. gardens. In 2006 the first international studbook Confiscated and re-possessed birds form a was created for the species and the Blue Macaw significant proportion of the known captive Coordinator for Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation population, exceptions being two birds bred at was appointed co-studbook keeper. Busch Gardens in Florida, USA and an undisclosed number of birds kept in private collections in General Introduction to the Lear’s Macaw at Al Switzerland. All other birds in captivity are property Wabra of the Brazilian government and managed through The birds kept at AWWP had been wild-caught their official environment agency IBAMA. Any as adults; this became obvious as veterinary other captive Lear’s Macaws are essentially illegal staff at AWWP found a slug from a shotgun and a product of the poaching industry that is in one of the birds, which was subsequently currently one of the biggest known threats to the surgically removed. The birds have remained wild Lear’s Macaws. nervous since their arrival to Qatar and have adapted poorly to captive conditions. A number Eight Lear’s Macaws were seized at Sharjah of health problems including poor kidneys airport and placed in the care of Al Wabra Wildlife also suggested that the birds might have been Preservation (AWWP), in 1998. Acknowledging treated poorly after capture and during transport. that poaching of live birds for private parrot collectors remains a major threat for the species Although generally nervous, the birds develop (IUCN, 2004) the AWWP agreed on request from trust in their keeper and are very much capable of IBAMA, to return the ownership of the birds to the recognizing individual persons from quite a distance Brazilian Government in 2003. Hereby the birds and respond very differently depending on their held at AWWP became an integrated part of the experiences with a particular person. Research breeding effort of the Brazilian Government and into physiology, nutrition, behavior and particularly effectively unavailable for the illegal trade that health of the birds has been ongoing at AWWP threatens the species. since 2003. Different housing arrangements have AFA Annual Convention 109 been used to increase the birds’ well being and box. Artificial nesting cavities have been made optimize conditions for successful reproduction. of concrete, including very large structures that Attempts to keep the birds in very social flocking simulate the size and structures that we know from conditions did not appear to stimulate breeding wild nests and, in one enclosure, two deep tunnels behavior. In one case, a single sex bonding formed that become cooler the deeper the birds enter. It between two males that could only be broken after was in such a nest that the first breeding success they were forcefully re-paired with females and with Lear’s Macaws at AWWP was achieved. kept separate; one of these pairings eventually produced an offspring. The pair of Lear’s Macaws Housing that produced the offspring bred in 2006 was also The aviary used for the successful pair of Lear’s observed to calm down considerably towards Macaws is a structure of steel, aluminum, their keeper after a tame pair of Hyacinth Macaws galvanized mesh and concrete. The size of the (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) was introduced aviary is 5 meters wide, 16 meters long and 8 meters to an enclosure alongside theirs. Generally large high, with the sheltered section being split into two aviaries with a good view to the surrounding levels. The ground is natural soil and a few small landscape have been preferred but we are also eucalyptus trees as well as grasses grow largely experimenting with a smaller setup where a pair undisturbed by the birds. At the back end there is stays completely secluded with no visual access an artificial but natural looking sandstone cliff wall to any other birds. All aviaries have access to made out of concrete with earthy color tones. Built climate-controlled shelters and most outside areas into the second level of this wall are the entrances are planted, and provided with artificial rain. Aside to two nesting cavities. The nesting cavities are from being hotter in summer, the climate in Qatar accessed by staff from inside the second level is not unlike the climate of the Brazilian Caatinga. through a rear door, allowing nest inspections The Lear’s Macaws at AWWP have proven to be without the birds knowing. The nest tunnels are extraordinarily heat tolerant and often discard the made of concrete and are approximately 49 cm in option to use the air-conditioned shelters, even diameter and extend in zigzag bends between two during the warmest months of the year. However, and four meters into the room, the cavity entrance being able to control the temperature of nesting is around 24 cm in diameter. An air-conditioning sites and feeding stations is important as they unit directed at the back end ensures that the breed in summer and food spoils very quickly in deeper the nest goes the cooler it gets, e.g. with these extreme conditions.