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TRUSTVETASSISTSSURVIVAL OF WORLD'SRARESTPARROT New clues to Echo Parakeet problem ByPallIa Harris

When the World Parrot Trust was The World Parrot Trust has project, contributing funds and of the World Parrot Trust and a launched in 1989, our first consistently provided funding for parrot expertise to both the member of the International Zoo priority was to help the world's the Echo Parakeet and maintained captive breeding programme and Veterinary Group. When the rarest parrot, the Echo Parakeet, close relations with the project's wild population management captive population of parrots which still numbers less than 20 director, Carl Jones, and the efforts. This new opportunity became ill this spring, Andrew birds in the wild. With your Jersey Wildlife Preservation provides the World Parrot Trust advised project staff in Mauritius generous donations, the Trust Trust, which finances and with one of the greatest by telephone and by fax. was proud to present the Echo manages the project with the co- challenges in parrot conservation Subsequently, at the request of Parakeet project with a badly operation of the Mauritius today. the Jersey Wildlife Preservation needed four wheel drive vehicle government's Conservation Unit. The followingstory is drawn, Trust, the World Parrot Trust sent to enable field researchers to Recently, the World Parrot Trust in part, from a veterinary report Andrew to Mauritius to reach the remote forest in which was invited to become a major by Andrew Greenwood,MAVetMB investigate tragic mortalities the parrot struggles to survive. partner in the Echo Parakeet MIBiolMRCVS,a founder Trustee among the Echo Parakeets.

The world's rarest parrot shares its have succeeded in creating a small, Indian Ocean island home with the but fragile, haven for the parakeet. world's rarest falcon, the Mauritius Even if good foraging could be Kestrel, and the world's rarest assured for the wild birds, their pigeon, the Pink Pigeon. Along nest holes remain vulnerable. Rats with eight other indigenous bird and monkeys eat the Echos' eggs species, the Echo Parakeet has and young, while Indian mynah declined largely because of mass birds colonize the few available deforestation on the island and the nest holes. Nature provides the introduction of rats, monkeys and final blow to the species. Cyclones mynah birds. Forests were felled regularly strike Mauritius, killing first for sugar plantations and birds outright and stripping away later for pine plantations, leaving vegetation so that the survivors only one area of indigenous forest have little or nothing to eat. along a mountainous ridge. This Mauritius was once the home to region, the Black River Gorges, has six species of parrot, all of them been designated as the first unique to the island, but by the national park in Mauritius. 1970's the Echo Parakeet was the Though now secure from further only parrot species left apart from development, the forest is the introduced Ringnecks. Today encroached upon by exotic flora the wild population is estimated which threatens to strangle the at 16 to 20 birds. natural vegetation on which the parrots depend for food. Weeding Captive Breeding Setbacks campaigns conducted for several To ensure the survival of the years to eliminate foreign plants species, Carl Jones began a programme to breed Echos in captivity, following similar procedures to those which had proved so successful with the Pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel. Jones and his team have learned from long experience that they can remove eggs from the nest of wild VetAndrewGreenwoodin Mauritius

1 parakeets in the early stages of nesting and the pair will immediately nest again. Chicks are removed only when it is apparent that the nest is going to fail and the chicks would die if left in the wild. So a captive population of Echo Parakeets can be established without depleting numbers in the wild. But efforts to keep and breed Echo Parakeets have proved frustrating. Since research on the Echo Parakeet began on Mauritius in 1974, twenty birds have been maintained in captivity. None of the birds have reached breeding age. Beginning in 1979, a colony of lo,cally-captured Indian Ringneck parakeets has been maintained in Mauritius at the Mauritius EchoParakeet at 48 days government's Black River Aviaries to act as foster parents for Echo Parakeets and chicks. A serious captive diet of the foster parents became sick with signs of vomiting research effort began in the 80's during the rearing period and of and lethargy. Andrew's treatment, the weaned Echo chicks in an with the ringnecks proving advised by fax and telephone, CONTENTS: singularly effective foster parents, attempt to reduce a perceived consisted of antibiotics and anti- hatching and rearing almost every obesity problem, but no further emetics, such as were available in Echo egg and chick they have been change in management took place. Mauritius. They seemed to hold presented with as well as breeding Also to solve the obesity the situation. One bird in which and rearing their own young. problem, the World Parrot Trust treatment produced no response has funded research to create a Status and Conservation However, 12 of the 15 Echo died 9 days after the first, a third of parrots in Tonga...4&5 Parakeets held in the aviaries since better diet for the captive Echos. began feeding again after 1987 have died. Seven birds were When St. Vincent parrots became treatment but was later lost and a Pa alive in the spring of 1993, obese at New York's Bronx Zoo, fourth appeared to have recovered animal nutritionist Dr. Ellen deriving from eggs and chicks well, but died suddenly from taken in 1991/2. In April disease Dierenfeld requested samples of intussusception and intestinal StOJ)the swept through the captive the vegetation the wild birds ate in prolapse. A fifth bird which was parrot chicks! ? their native Caribbean forest. A population leaving only 3 birds also ill and treated, recovered and detailed chemical analysis was remains alive. Research&Breeding alive, one sub-adult pair and a made of each flower, leaf and fruit. A water sample from the aviary R~port m" 8&9 juvenile. Eightof the deaths (67%) have occurred in April/May when Foodstuffs readily available to the water system was reported to be zoo in North America were the birds were aged 4 - 18 months. grossly contaminated with Although veterinary analysed and compared to native coliform bacteria, and unfit for investigations have been foods for vitamins, minerals and human consumption. Postmortem ActionPage 12 conducted in the past, results have fibre content. A new diet, examinations were carried out by been inconclusive. No data remain duplicating as closely as possible aviary staff, with the help of the on the 4 chicks harvested in 1974- the foods the parrots selected for Ministry of Agriculture's 5. Scant information on captive themselves naturally in the wild, laboratory. Gross examination of Echos dating from 1987 mentions, was strictly administered to the the bodies showed only one bird to but dismisses, the finding of a parrots. Now the World Parrot be in fat condition. Various Aims.oftheTrust 15 number of Gram negative bacteria Trust is funding a similar study for bacteria were cultured during life isolated from dead parakeets, the captive Echo Parakeets. and after death from this group of organisms which we now recognise Samples of the indigenous plants birds, including coliforms. Various Parrotsin theWild d6 eaten in the wild have been as major pathogens of parrots. tissues were collected, shipped to the OKunder licence and Gram negative bacteria are collected and shipped to Ellen normally found in the gut of man Dierenfeld's New York laboratories submitted to Rest Associates for and most animals and birds, for analysis. rapid histopathology. The findings especially carnivores, but are not Already the Echos are fed an may be summarised as almost entirely fruit, vegetable and haemorrhagic enteritis with Members of normally present in any numbers in parrots. Healthy parrots can leaf diet, but in spite of this the secondary kidney damage. One deaths have continued. Andrew bird had salmonella isolated at probably fight them off and do not become colonized unless there is Greenwood reports that the Echo postmortem. At the same time as IUeN, an underlying dietary, immunity or Parakeet appears to be a rounded the parakeet deaths, several The World Consemtion Union disease problem or an 'fat' bird, more closely resembling Rodrigues fruit bats and two Mauritius fodies also died in the overwhelming challenge with a pigeon in shape. Even the birds severe contamination. of the wild population which are aviaries. The deaths of the fodies foraging on native leaves and appear unrelated to the Echos, but Is Obesity a Mortality fruits have a similar appearance. most of the dead bats were not Factor? A fresh look at the problems the examined. The World Parrot Trust does Echos face in captivity was clearly When the Trust sent Andrew Detailed data on birds lost before needed. not necessarily endorse any 1991 are not available. Seven Greenwood to Mauritius at the end views or statements made of May, all deaths, except among parakeets were examined in 1991. by contributors.to World Parrot Trust Begins the bats, had ceased and no A preliminary report on these . Investigations parakeets remained on treatment. -11\\1...~I.\ \10011... 1.1' birds ruled out any significant The Trust's involvement with the At the Black River Aviaries he It will of course: consider infectious or parasitic disease, but captive Echo Parakeet mortality approached the parakeet problem articles or letters from any concentrated on the large fat contributor on their merits. stores present in the bodies. This problems began in April 1993 as a typical avicultural or zoo site when one bird died and others led to a major change in the investigation. He often conducts

'l. this kind of study when improved by the construction of group is potentially extremely established for them. An aviculturists are experiencing the new aviary block where serious. Andrew suggested that alternative would be to capture unusual losses or reproductive parakeets will be kept separate consideration may need to be some wild birds and blood sample failure among their stock. He from other species and have a given to phasing out Ringneck them intensively prior to re- assesses all aspects of the large flight cage. The present fostering. They could be replaced release. This would allow further husbandry and management of the facilities have served the Mauritius with artificial incubation and hand- tests for blood parasites and aviary, collects samples of known Kestrel and Pink Pigeon captive rearing or, eventually, by Echo psittacine beak and feather quality and origin and correlates breeding programmes well, but Parakeets as foster parents if and disease. this information with clinical, parrot species are extremely when pairs are established. Or a Other species, such as doves postmortem and other laboratory sensitive to disease and the Echo newly established Ringneck group and passerines, may also present findings. At Black River he Parakeets will require a much either from within or outside the a threat to parakeets, as well as to collected fresh faecal samples more rigorously controlled island (preferably within) could be Pink Pigeons and fodies, by from 6 Ringneck aviaries and from environment. used after testing them during a transmitting virus diseases such as the surviving Echo parakeets for quarantine period for all available avian pox, or parasites. Their culture. He also blood sampled six Fighting Disease on Several Fronts parrot diseases. disease status needs to be studied, individual Ringnecks and sent the Routine monthly faecal samples particularly with regard to the samples for virological Andrew made various hygiene need to be collected from all risks introduced by supplementary investigation at the University of recommendations designed to parakeets (Echos and Ringnecks) feeding in the wild. Giessen in Germany. minimise the bacterial load to and submitted for Gram stain, Lab Tests Continue which the parakeets are subjected. culture and sensitivity and parasite Evidence Suggests Disease All parrots are highly susceptible examinations. Andrew would like Histological sections from the four After a thorough on-site to infection with Gram negative to see a Mauritius government vet dead Echo parakeets have been investigation of the Echo Parakeets bacteria, especially if stressed by selected for specialized avian submitted to the University of in captivity and in the wild and other means, and such bacteria are pathology in a U.K.laboratory. Georgia for DNA probe and receipt of postmortem and clinical regularly present as a result of immunofluorescence tests for the examination results, Andrew is contamination by humans as well Monitoring Wild presence of polyomavirus, to see if convinced that the parakeet as pest species. The obvious peak Populations this may have played any part in problem is a disease which must be of mortality among Echo Parakeets In any situation where highly the losses. Blood smears from the tackled if the species is to be saved. in April may be associated with endangered species are being captive Ringnecks have been Faecal samples from the pair of some heavy environmental managed and manipulated, as submitted for examination for Echo Parakeets and two of the 6 contamination at that time of year, much as possible needs to be haematozoa, which was negative. pairs of Ringnecks contained a perhaps water-borne. known about their disease status Andrew is also considering the number of Gram negative bacteria. He also advised keepers of the in the wild and that of any closely- possibility of Iow-grade zinc All 6 Ringnecks were negative for possibility of transmission of related species present. Almost no toxicity from galvanised aviary Psittacine herpesvirus, but all were disease between aviaries on their work seems to have been done on wire and discussing a study of positive to polyomavirus, a highly shoes, clothes and implements (so this aspect of Mauritius wildlife, existing material from the contagious virus which only called fomite spread). Keepers yet the presence of introduced Mascarenes' Reference Collection affects the chicks. Typically, chicks should have no contact with Ringneck parakeets presents an with the Leeds Metal Reference may die at a young age or simply domestic poultry or other birds obvious disease threat to Echos. Laboratory. Andrew is also anxious to re- be very diffiClllt to rear, with outside their work and poultry Field research is conducted year repeated bacterial infections and must be excluded from the round on the wild population, so it examine the management records, poor growth rate. Also the results immediate environs of the aviary, would be quite easy for postmortem reports and material indicate that psittacine as poultry diseases are present on field workers to collect fresh faecal from previous years, particularly polyomavirus is present and active theisland. samples from wild Echos and as polyomavirus testing was not within the group, as it has been Despite the excellent results submit them for regular analyses. then available. Reviewing this passed from parents to offspring. achieved by the Ringnecks as The same could be done for material in the light of the current The facilities at Black River foster parents, the presence of Ringnecks if a regular feeding findings and with modern Aviaries are about to be greatly polyomavirus infection in this station or foraging area can be techniques could be extremely important to the success of the captive breeding programme for the Echo Parakeets. The World Parrot Trust is committed to pursuing its investigations into the cause of mortality among the captive population of Echo Parakeets. In Mauritius some of Andrew's recommendations have already been implemented and others are underway. The three remaining birds are well now, but the mysterious disease must be identified and eliminated before spring returns, bringing with it the possibility of additional losses. Veterinary science is pitted against a seasonal time bomb in the fight to help save the world's rarest parrot from extinction.

TheWorldParrotTrustisgrateful toBritishAirwaysAssistingNature Conservationfor flyingAndrew GreenwoodtoMauritiustoconduct hisvital investigations.

Mauritius Landscape

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