December 1999 No. 55

CyanopsittaCyanopsittaFUNDACIÓN

5 1994-1999 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

Loro Parque Fundación: 1994-1999 The founders of the Advisory Board of Loro Parque Fundación in 1994: Wolfgang Kiessling, John Parque Fundación in 1994: Wolfgang Board of Loro The founders of the Advisory and David Waugh. Susan Clubb, Inge Feier, Stoodley, The first five years “The conservation of parrots in their natural environment and in ”. This is what Loro Parque Fundación is striving for like few other organisations in the world. Using parrots as ambassadors the foundation strives to protect the habitats in which they live and secure the survival of a area of the endangered ecosystems of our planet. Loro Parque Foundacion has financed and collaborated in 22 parrot field conservation programmes, and is constantly increasing both its annual spending budget and the number of projects that it finances. Up to the present date, the foundation’s expenditures in parrot conservation total US$ 1.3 million. This parrot collection, which is the largest in the world, is an invaluable safety-net and genetic resource for species and subspecies endangered in the wild state, today comprises of around 2800 individuals of 312 taxa. Loro Parque Foundation participates in 20 of the 21 European Studbooks and Programmes concerning parrots, of which it coordinates five. Other major tasks undertaken by the foundation are the captive research programmes aimed at improving the welfare and management of parrots in captivity and the education programmes that convey to the over one and a half million annual visitors to Loro Parque the need to protect the world’s natural heritage. It all began when Mr. Wolfgang Kiessling for future developments. The long-term financing of formed an organisation aimed at protecting parrots in the Spix’s Macaw Recovery Programme in Brazil began the wild. Loro Parque had already started in 1987 to with the creation of the Permanent Committee in 1990. finance it´s first parrot conservation project - aimed at In 1992, coinciding with the expansion of Loro saving the two endemic amazons on the Caribbean Parque, Loro Parque Fundacion was created and island of Dominica - and the association laid the grounds

3 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 The Advisory Board of Loro Parque Fundación Tomás de Azcárate y Bang Nigel J Collar Susan L. Clubb Wolfgang Grummt Povl Jorgensen Ministry of the Environment Research Fellow Avian Veterinarian Animal Park Friedrichsfelde Aviculturist of the Canary Islands BirdLife International Florida, USA Berlin, Germany Haslev, Denmark Tenerife, Spain Cambridge, England

Ian R. Swingland Roland Wirth David Waugh Joachim Steinbacher President and Founder President and Founder Director Editor of Gefiederte Welt Durrell Institute of Zoological Socierty for the Protection Royal of Scotland Bad Homburg, Germany Conservation and Ecology of Species and Populations Edinburgh, Scotland Kent, England Munich, Germany

formally registered at regional level in the Canary In 1995, Dr. David Waugh joined Loro Parque Islands under the name of Fundación Loro Parque. Fundación as its first Scientific Director. Together with Within the frame of this organisation, several initiatives Mr. Wolfgang Kiessling, President of the Foundation, aimed at the protection of the environment have since and Mrs.Inge Feier, its Director, the ground lines for been supported, such as the awarding of prizes for the future were laid down: guidelines and priorities were outstanding environmental documentaries and established for the selection and funding of parrot field publications. conservation programmes and the conduct of captive research programmes. The foundation also moved into Loro Parque Fundación: 1994-1999 its headquarters inside Loro Parque. The newsletter, In 1994, Loro Parque Fundación was legally first published in 1986, was given a new name registered as a non-profit, non-governmental “Cyanopsitta” and has evolved from being a simple organisation with the Ministry for Education and news sheet into a highly colourful informative magazine. Science of the Government of Spain. With its Furthermore, 1995 saw two major events in recognition at the national level and thus the autorisation the Spix’s macaw project: the release of the female in to engage in activities world-wide, Loro Parque Brazil and the transfer of two birds from the São Paulo Fundación became the leading force in the management to Tenerife. The number of supported in-situ parrot of the parrot conservation projects that had previously conservation projects increased to six. been funded by Loro Parque. The Spix’s macaw - one of the most emblematic parrot species - was chosen as 1996 was marked by several important events. the emblem of the new foundation. Foremost, a generous donation by Her Majesty Queen Loro Parque S.A. transferred the ownership of Sirikit of Thailand and her acceptance to become the largest collection of parrots in the world and the Honorary Member of Loro Parque Fundación. breeding centres, to the newly created foundation. While Secondly, the founding of the Advisiory Board of the the management of the collection has since been paid foundation, with Mr.John Stoodley and Dr.Susan Clubb by Loro Parque, the revenue stemming from the sales as the first external members, and the increase of the of surplus offspring benefits the activities of Loro number of parrot field conservation projects to nine. Parque Fundación. Furthermore, an agreement was signed with the Loro Parque gave permission for the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, to facilitate the installation of 2 collection boxes; the lucky bell and the exchange of expertise and allow student internships at bronze carp. Further income was gained by the annual the foundation. contributions by it´s members. Moreover, Loro Parque granted the foundation free space for an Ecoshop, which In 1997, several acclaimed experts accepted brought in more income. the invitation to become additional members of the Board of Advisors, including Dr.Tomás de Azcárate y

Sponsors of Loro Parque Fundación

4 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 Bang, Mr. Povl Jorgensen, Dr. Joachim Steinbacher, Mr. Ian Swingland and Mr.Roland Wirth, and a meeting was held in May of that year to discuss the future development of the foundation. Also in this year, captive-bred Illiger’s Macaws were sent from Tenerife to Brazil for a pilot re- introduction experiment designed to help future releases of captive-bred Spix’s macaws. Finally, the first phase of the new breeding centre of the foundation at La Vera was inaugurated.

In 1998 the postion of educator was created in order to increase the colaboration between local schools on the islands. An agreement was signed with the “Escuela Navega”- the Department of Education of the Canary Island Government, in order to offer the experiment had been. complete animal collection of Loro Parque as an educational resource to the local school community. 1999 is the V anniversary of Loro Parque In July, Mr. Yves de Soye succeeded Dr.David Fundación. It has brought many exciting happenings Waugh in the position of Scientific Director, and and success stories, but also the departure of Mr. John continued to work along the priorities previously Stoodley - a loss that will take a while to overcome. established. The website of Loro Parque Fundación was Mr. Nigel Collar, Dr.Wolfgang Grummt and installed, and new didactic signs for all the parrot cages Dr. David Waugh accepted our invitation to become were produced. The second phase of the parrot breeding new members of the Advisory Board of the foundation. centre in La Vera was inaugurated. The foundation The number of parrot field conservation st convened the 1 Parrot Management Workshop and for projects has risen to twelve and, for the first time, the the first time hosted the IV. International World Parrot anual spending exceeded US$ 200,000 (see graphic Convention. above). The same year saw the release of the captive- An agreement was signed with the University bred Illiger‘s macaws sent from Tenerife to Brazil, and of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, reinforcing the link the following months showed how successful the with the academic community in the Canary Islands. The Department of Education was successfully taken over by Dr.Javier Almunia. A special teachers’ pack “Animals of the world “was completed for elementary schools that plan to visit Loro Parque, and an extensive educational exhibit was accomplished for the newly opened penguin exhibit in Loro Parque. The Spix’s Macaw Recovery Committee met in Houston and several important and promising decisions were taken that give us high hopes that a population of Spix’s macaws will soon be re-established in the wild.

Over the past years the foundation has contributed significantly to parrot mangement and care.

5 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

Projects supported since 1994. (On-going projects are marked with an asterisk) 1 Conservation of the endemic Red-necked and Imperial amazons on Dominica, Amazona arausiaca and A. imperialis (Peter Evans/Oxford University & Dominica Forestry and Wildlife Division; 141,760 US$) 2* Spix’s Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii Recovery Programme in Brazil (536,018 US$) 3 Parrot Conservation on the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia (International Loriinae Society; 5,250 US$) 4 Identification of priority areas for parrot and conservation on Halmahera, Indonesia (BirdLife International & Indonesian Directorate General of Forest Conservation and Nature Protection; 90,052 US$) 5 Conservation census of the Red-tailed Amazon, Amazona brasiliensis, in Paraná, Brazil (Pedro Scherer Neto, Museu de História Natural, Curitiba; 7,100 US$) 6* Blue-throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis Conservation in Bolivia (Asociación Armonía; 62,931 US$) 7 Status of the Rusty-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca amazonina in Venezuela (Fundación Provita; 3,350 US$) 8* Conservation of the Yellow-Eared Conure Ognorhynchus icterotis in Ecuador (Niels Krabbe; 56,244 US$) 9 Conservation of the Red-and-Blue Lory Eos histrio on Tangihe and Salaud, Indonesia (IUCN South-East Asia; 15,500 US$) 10 Wae Bula Expedition ‘96 - Moluccan Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis population surveys on Seram, Indonesia (Cambridge University; 6,000 US$) 11 Project Ortalis ‘96 - Conservation of Tumbesian parrots, Ecuador (Cambridge University; 750 US$) 12 Research into a vaccine against Proventricular Dilatation Disease PDD (Bran Ritchie, University of Georgia; 50,000 US$) 13* Guayaquil Macaw Ara ambigua guayaquilensis and Lilacine Amazon Amazona autumnalis lilacina Field Study & Environmental Education Programme in Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, Ecuador (Fundación Pro-Bosque; 50,493 US$) 14* Status, ecology and of the Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis in Zambia (Mike Perrin/Louise Warburton, Research Centre for African Parrot Conservation; 20,000 US$) 15* Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand - Biodiversity surveys, environmental education, and resource and land-use mapping ( Division, Royal Forest Department of Thailand; 104,249 US$) 16 Sozoranga Forest Project, Ecuador (Fundación Arcoiris, Cambridge University & University College London; 3,000 US$) 17 Amata Bird Sanctuary, Thailand (1,000 US$) 18* Ecology and distribution of the Vinaceous Amazon Amazona vinacea in Paraná, Brazil (Ligia Mieko Abe, Museu de História Natural, Curitiba; 1,200 US$) 19* Conservation of the Yellow-eared Conure Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia (Paul Salaman, Proyecto Ognorhynchus; 25,000 US$) 20* Red-vented Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia Conservation Programme, (Marc Boussekey/Peter Widman; 18,000 US$) 21* Action Sampiri - Conservation of endangered parrot species on the Sangihe & Talaud islands, Indonesia (University of York & Universitas Sam Ratulangi/ Sulawesi; 8,000 US$) 22* Kakatua Seram - Conservation of the Moluccan Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis on Seram, Indonesia (BirdLife International & Wildlife Conservation Society; 10,500 US$) 23* Environmental education programme for the Red-tailed Amazon Amazona brasiliensis in Superagüi National Park, Paraná, Brazil (Suzana Padua / Sandra Navas, Instituto de Pesquisas Ecologicas; 24,900 US$)

community. Some of the projects have been implemented At the moment Loro Parque Fundación is co- in collaboration with internationally acclaimed ordinator of the EEPs for the Red-Browed Amazon universities, and organisations such as RARE Center, Amazona rhodocorytha, and the Blue-throated Macaw the IUCN and BirdLife International. Many are Ara glaucogularis. In addition it is the holder of the implemented by local governmental or non- European Studbooks for the Red-and-Blue Lory Eos governmental organisations that tend to have a better histrio, the Mount Apo Lorikeet Trichoglossus understanding of local customs and may hence be more johnstoniae, and the Red-Spectacled Amazon Amazona qualified in identifying appropriate conservation pretrei. strategies. Research projects that have addressed parrot The sale of the surplus parrots of Loro Parque captive managament include studies on the pairing and Fundación contributes in two different ways to breeding behaviour of Spix’s macaws and Golden conservation: firstly, it provides a considerable portion Conures Guaruba guarouba, the comparison of growth of the funds that the foundation invests every year in rates of hand-reared and parent-reared parrots, a study field conservation programmes. Secondly, captive-bred on lory diet, a study on the husbandry of the Purple- parrots help to reduce the pressures on wild parrot bellied Parrot Triclaria malachitacea, and studies on populations that in most places are still subjected to the effect of environmental enrichment on the behaviour heavy trapping for the legal and illegal bird trade. The of white cockatoos. Within the frame of the cooperation sale of souvenirs and the annual contributions of the agreement with Pretty Bird Inc., we are amidst current 500 members of the foundation also contribute ambitious research programmes aimed at increasing our strongly to the funds available for our activities. In this understanding of feather plucking, and the food context, it cannot be over-emphasised that all consumption and nutritional requirements of parrots administration costs of the foundation, such as salaries down to species level. and office overheads are covered by Loro Parque and Loro Parque Fundación for its part allows for the Our efforts must become even greater exhibition of at least one pair of each species of parrot After five successful years, the foundation has from this largest collection in the world. The funds from firmly established itself in the parrot conservation donations are then used entirely for the parrot

6 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 conservation projects that the foundation supports. Kanarien- und Exotenzuchtverein Forchheim, DONA, Sattva Music and Agencia Guimerá. Many of our activities would not have been possible Since the creation of Loro Parque Fundación, without the year-long support of our sponsors, including: the budget and the number of projects has increased Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, Pepsi-Cola, Kalise, Kodak, Compañía almost yearly. Despite this, it is necessary to further Cervecera de Canarias, Pretty Bird Inc., Thee Birdie Bordello, strengthen our efforts and multiply the resources Deportes Guerra, Vereinigung für Artenschutz, Vogelhaltung available for parrot and biodiversity conservation und Vogelzucht (AZ) e.V., Brutgeräte Grumbach, Caja projects. It will also be one of the aims of the foundation Canarias, Caja de Madrid, Nestlé, Cash & Carry, CEPSA, to expand its role in the implementation of a number of CITA, Coleman, Emcadisa, Imprenta Travieso, Litografia these projects, and to ensure the resources are used in Romero, Publicidad Atlantis, TUI, Vogelfreunde Achern, the most effective way.o

JOHN STOODLEY 1926 - 1999 The loss of a wonderful friend

John Stoodley always commented that “the best way to know life is to love many things.” The loving care he dedicated to his parrot collection, his techniques and thoroughness were well known in aviculture.

Being recognized worldwide for his outstanding achievements in the breeding of new world parrots, especially of the genus Pionus, he was always willing to share his experiences with us over 25 years. It was our good fortune to have known him, to have enjoyed his friendship and his guidance as a member of the advisory board of our foundation. His experience and advice was of the greatest value to us. We owe a lot to John, and with a commemorative plaque we promise to continue to use his rich resources and encourage the same spirit of dedication in everyone, so that the parrot world becomes a better place for future generations.

7 The world’s larges opens in Lo t penguin exhibit ro Parque Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

Humboldt penguin exhibit on the left and main exhibit on the right. The acrylic cylinder.

After many years of planning and research, and more than one year of construction work, Loro Parque finally opened its latest and possibly most outstanding attraction to the public in November. PLANET PENGUIN consists of two exhibits, the principal one for three species of Antarctic penguins, and a second for a subtropical penguin species, housing altogether 174 penguins. Altogether, it comprises an area of 3,900 m². The sheer size of the new penguinarium and its exceptional design, which provide the animals with a unique environment, have found great praise among the many visitors that have already seen the installation in the course of the first weeks.

The principal exhibit holds 65 King represents the land area available to the birds. The Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus, 46 peninsula has a central ridge of about two to three Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes chrysocome, and meters height, and is surrounded by a total of 550 40 Gentoo Penguins Pygoscelis papua, as well as m³ of water on almost all sides. Both pool and land two Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus. The 517 m² areas are the most extensive to be found and large enclosure is elliptical in form, with a similarly moulded rock and snow provide them with a near- shaped peninsula of 339 m² in the center that natural environment. The large swimming area

King penguins at Loro Parque: a nestling just about to hatch and several young at a few days of age.

10 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 permits diving and porpoising even of the large King penguins. Around almost the entire oval perimeter of the exhibit, the water is enclosed by 65 meters of continuous glass panels that form the actual viewing area. Upon entering the penguinarium, the visitor may step onto a moving walkway that will carry him around the entire perimeter of glass panels. With the water level inside the exhibit at slightly below adult chest height, the visitor is able to observe the animals both on the peninsula and diving or swimming in the water. The Antarctic penguins come from two sources. The larger part of the King penguin collection stem from eggs that were collected in March 1998 during an expedition to South Georgia. Of the 117 eggs collected for Loro Parque, 70 young hatched of which 51 could be successfully reared. It must be emphasised that the collection of eggs was done in a manner that any impact on the wild population was precluded: the collecting was scheduled such that the eggs encountered belonged to those laid too late in the season. The arrival at Tenerife of the airplane chartered for the Research projects conducted in South Georgia have transport of the penguins from the USA, and the unloading of shown that young that hatch at the end of March the birds. or later, that is, towards the end of the Austral summer, have no chance of surviving the oncoming harbours 23 Humboldt penguins Spheniscus winter months. The remaining King penguins, like humboldtii, which were brought in from Penscynor the Rockhopper and Gentoo penguins, were Wildlife Park in England. Another important complex captive-bred at Sea World in the USA, and brought immediately adjacent to the main building is the to Tenerife in a specially chartered plane, quarantine and hand-rearing station. accompanied by a team of veterinarians and Upon entering the penguin exhibit, the visitor biologists from both the receiving and the sending descends via a large spiral staircase, in the center of organisations. which is installed an acrylic aquarium cylinder –with The second exhibit, of 111 m² size, 4 m diameter and 8.5 m height, the largest of its kind in the world–, which contains several thousands of pelagic fish swirling and gliding together.

Animal management While the Humboldt penguins enjoy the local climatic conditions of the Canary Islands (which is subtropical like in their natural area of distribution), the Antarctic penguin exhibit recreates the light, air and water parameters characteristic for the environment from where these birds originate. Six ice machines installed above the inner roof of the exhibit produce a total of up to 12 tons of ice per day, which constantly falls in small snow flakes through openings in the roof, largely covering the exhibit. The air is constantly kept at temperatures between -3 and +3 ºC, and the seawater –which cames from the ocean next-door– is cooled to +10 Two stages of the construction works of the penguinarium, as seen from above.

11 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

The four penguin species in the exhibit: Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome, King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus, Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua and Humboldt penguins Spheniscus humboldtii.

ºC. Using an array of halogen, mercury and quartz 99.95 % (microscopic particles including micro- lamps, the photoperiod that corresponds to that at organisms). The 3000 m³ of air of the main exhibit 60º latitude south was reproduced, continuously are replaced five times every 24 hours, and increasing periods of darkness towards the winter furthermore recycled internally 14 times per hour. months and increasing periods of light towards the The water of both exhibits is constantly summer months. In addition, red light lamps are removed from the pools through a number of installed to simulate the morning and evening bottom drains and surface skimmers, and water lights, and six mirrored shafts that, depending on jets are installed at the sides of the pool walls to the season, permit the projection of natural sunlight increase the water movement and hence rate of into the enclosure over the daylight hours. exchange. The 620 m³ of water are filtered in their The machine room has one of the most entirety every 30 minutes. Once taken out of the advanced and sophisticated filtration systems in the pools, the water is transferred to protein skimmers, world. It allows a very high grade of purification, where tiny bubbles are injected with ozone to to preclude any contamination by air- or remove the organic waste accumulated in the water. waterborne pathogens. The air filtration is through After the protein skimmer treatment, the water a system of three consecutive filters of increasing passes through a series of pressured sand filters efficacity: the first at 80-85 % (larger particles), that remove the larger particles, as well as toxins the second at 93 % (small particles) and the last at through a bacterial nitrification process. The energy required to secure the maintenance of the facility is provided by a photo-voltaic system built by the Technological Institute for Renewable Energies in the south of Tenerife. The diet of our penguins generally consists of capelin, herring, spratt, sperlan - fish that is supplied and kept deep-frozen. Two days before feeding the fish is taken out of the freezer and exposed to +3-+4 ºC for defrosting; just prior to feeding, the fish is defrosted under running fresh water. In addition to fish, the penguins receive squid, shellfish and crustaceans (krill), and vitamin supplements on a regular basis. Inside the exhibits, areas have been provided for eventual breeding activities of all species. For the King penguins, two zones have been prepared for egg-laying. The smaller species in the main exhibit will be able to access the higher areas on the

A partial view of one of the several machine rooms. central ridge, where cavities and small

12 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

A group of King penguins in the main exhibit. promontories have been prepared. For the Humboldt penguins, cavities where egg-laying can take place have been prepared.

The educational exhibit Of the 17 extant species of penguins, the three northernmost face a serious threat in the wild, due to factors such as overfishing, habitat destruction and guano collecting. In fact, the marine environment in the Southern Oceans, on which all penguins and the other animal species depend, is subjected to increasing pressures from over-exploitation of its resources. In order to convey to the many visitors of Loro Parque the importance of protecting the Antarctic region and the animals that live in it, and using our birds as ambassadors for their own cause, an extensive trilingual educational exhibit has been designed and installed, that includes a penguin video, panels on over-exploitation of marine resources, as well as interactive touch-screen computers with information about the biology of each penguin species and of the threats some of them face. o

One of the six 3m-high panels on resource exploitation in the Southern Oceans.

13 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000

Last chance for the Philippine Cockatoo ? The Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Programme has been operating on the island of since 1992. Loro Parque Fundación started to be the principal sponsor for this project in January 1999 - with a commitment of 18,000 US$ for a period of two years - after it entered a new, second phase a few months earlier. In a recent move away from the mainland of Palawan, the project now focuses on the offshore Island of Rasa, a little-protected sanctuary with a substantial local population of cockatoos, that offers ideal conditions for a last-ditch effort to save the species from in the wild. The report submitted by Project Director Marc Boussekey details the progress of the project in establishing ties with the community and in developing adequate strategies to protect the Philippine Cockatoo in this important area.

The endemic Philippine or Red-Vented individuals, with the largest remaining populations, Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia is rapidly found in the lowlands of Palawan and adjacent approaching the brink of extinction. Formerly smaller islands. occurring in lowland areas and The transfer of the conservation efforts to throughout the Philippine archipelago, the species Rasa Island occurred after six years of work on the has suffered a dramatic decline over the last decades, mainland, where the project has established excellent with large-scale habitat loss and intense, countrywide ties with the press and local government units. In poaching activities being the principal factors. The far-reaching media campaigns, the need to protect species is now reduced to an estimated 750-4000 the cockatoo was broadcasted all over the island,

14 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 area for the conservation of the cockatoo. In addition, a variety of other globally threatened taxa are present, including two parrots, the Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis and the Blue- headed Racket-tail Prioniturus platenae, which will benefit from the conservation activities. Since Rasa Island is not inhabited by humans due to the lack of drinking water, and far easier to monitor than any site on the mainland of Palawan, the possibility to protect the cockatoo is also far greater. However, very few areas remain in the Philippines - considered one of the three top priority countries for biodiversity conservation in the world - Marc Boussekey with a guide near Rasa Island where natural resources are not under tremendous pressures from exploitation and there has been increasing awareness in the local by the local populations. This is also the case with offices of the environmental authorities. However, Rasa Island. It turned out that almost all natural the first approach to protect several cockatoo nests resources of Rasa, including the cockatoo, are under from poaching in the area of Cabayugan – where considerable utilisation pressure. Although there are the field activities where then centered – no permanent settlers, coral reefs, seagrass beds and unfortunately failed; the known poachers hired for mangroves surrounding the island are common the project in an attempt to convert them to parrot grounds for fishing and gleaning; some thirty conservationists preferred to follow their own claimants use the dry land, mainly through agenda. It appears that the poaching pressure exerted converting the natural vegetation into coconut from the many surrounding communities was too plantation. Logging of mangroves and timber trees high, and the situation too difficult to allow the is also practiced, as are hunting and trapping of implementation of a large-scale nest-protection wildlife. scheme. The project is now coordinated in the An office and boat for the Programme Philippines by the Ecologist Peter Widman (Field Research Coordinator), who has been in the country In February 1999, to firmly establish the for many years, previously working for the German presence of the Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Technical Cooperation Agency GTZ. Programme in the region, and to ease the increased involvement with the Local Government Units and Rasa Island

Rasa is a coral island situated off the eastern coast of the island of Palawan in the south-western Philippines, and forms part of to the Municipality of Narra. Depending on the tidal regime the area of Rasa Island is about 19 km². Portions affected by the tide are stocked with an extensive belt of mangroves. On the dry portion of coralline rocks and soils thrives a species-rich community of coastal vegetation; the latter diminishes more and more due to illegal logging and conversion into coconut plantation. Rasa Island probably holds the highest population density of Katala (as the Philippine Cockatoo is called in Palawan) that remains in the wild, making it - although vulnerable - a high priority Searching for the cockatoo...

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A former trapper at a cockatoo nest hole lowers down the nestlings for research purposes... the intensive networking with the claimants, a field the official carrier of the programme in the region. office was rented in the municipal town of Narra, The Sagip Katala Movement was created as only ten minutes away from Panacan, the point of a local conservation organisation with the aim to departure to Rasa Island. A pumpboat, equipped with proclaim Rasa Island and the surrounding seas a a 16 horsepower engine and able to accommodate protected area within the coming years. The group six persons, was purchased for the conservation comprises around 60 inhabitants of the local activities of the Programme. It is meant to facilitate community and received official endorsement by the access to the island for patrolling and research, as local government and environmental authorities and well as ecotourism and livelihood activities. NGOs of the region. Its main actions over the coming two years will be law enforcement, the linkaging of The Sagip Katala Movement livelihood and conservation, and the conduct of information and education campaigns. Some Since human activities are an essential factor members of the group have been named guards for in the effort to protect the Cockatoo on the island, two community workers, Siegfried Diaz (Community Organizer) and Indira Lacerna (Community Development Officer) have been employed since October 1998 and January 1999, respectively. A stakeholders analysis was then conducted in February 1999, which emphasised that the land claimants are the key players in a successful implementation of the project and should be included in all conservation decisions. Alternative livelihood must be provided to the coastal village of Panacan, across the channel separating Rasa Island from the Palawan mainland, to reduce the influx of more people to the island. The meeting of the stakeholders proved so successful that it resulted in the creation of the Sagip Katala Movement, which will serve as ... after which they are returned to the nest.

16 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 Rasa Island by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which form the first-ever anti-poaching unit in the region. Furthermore, the fines imposed for the illegal trapping of the cockatoo have been raised by the municipal government in Narra. In exchange for reducing the pressure on the habitats on Rasa Island, the claimants will receive support to their livelihood, projects taken into consideration are to establish fish breeding and hog fattening farms, as well duck raising and bee keeping facilities. In a new attempt, ex-poachers will be recruited as guards, as they have the highest knowledge of the cockatoo and other wildlife. Red-vented Cockatoos in a trader’s premises in the Philippines. Palawan Governor attends the MOA signing Research on the cockatoo and its habitat Networking with local government units and other concerned agencies, particularly the offices of Continuing research into the ecology and the the environmental authority (PENRO, CENRO), is breeding biology of the cockatoo is central to identify essential for the development of the project. A the most suitable strategies for its conservation in Consultative Meeting and Planning Workshop was the future. Surprisingly, many aspects of the biology conducted in January 1999, which was attended by of the species still remain unknown. After initial government officials, claimants and other estimates that the population would be between 30 stakeholders of the island of Rasa. It was agreed and 60 birds, recent surveys at roost sites were able during this meeting that all stakeholders be organized to confirm that the local population on the island is and that linkages to other cooperating agencies and certainly above 50, and possibly even higher - authorities be established and strengthened. although the cockatoo is white and conspicuous, it Witnessed by the Governor of Palawan and the proved difficult to assess their exact numbers. Mayor of Narra, the signing of the Memorandum of Through direct observations, nine tree species could Agreement between the Philippine Cockatoo be identified that are relevant for the cockatoos as a Conservation Programme, the Municipality of food source. The cockatoos can be found in a wide Narra, and other cooperating agencies and range of habitats, and are not restricted to intact authorities concerned with the protection and or lowland dipterocarp forest habitats; one conservation of the Philippine Cockatoo took place of the important limiting factors for the species on 7 March 1999 in Brgy Panacan. appears to be the lack of nesting trees. However,

IV. International Parrot Convention Proceedings

You can still obtain one of the remaining copies of the proceed- ings of the IV. International Parrot Convention, held in Tenerife from 17th to 20th September 1998. The new purchase price is 30 USD (incl. shipment). Please send your order by fax, mail or e- mail to the offices of Loro Parque Fundación.

17 Cyanopsitta No. 56 - March 2000 The project will continue with its educational efforts encompassing the mainland of Palawan.Information about the project is disseminated particularly through the print media, to solicit further support and spread the message about the need to conserve the cockatoo. A program brochure, stickers and a new poster were developed to introduce the aim of the project to the local inhabitants, and a booklet about cockatoo conservation for school children will soon be finished. The commentary of a 1997 documentary about the project has been translated to the most common language, Tagalog, and is being shown on Palawan as well as on other islands of the Philippines - where the cockatoo has mostly already gone extinct. In the nursery for native tree species. Options for the future whether they are able to generally adapt to secondary habitats - as long as food and nesting trees are It is evident that the population of Philippine available - is difficult to establish: all pairs breeding Cockatoos on Rasa Island will not be sufficient to in areas altered by man are subject to a considerable secure its long-term survival. Despite the high poaching pressure. density of the species on the island, the area of 20 Furthermore, general biodiversity surveys km² is too small, and other areas need to be looked are being conducted to assess the conservation value at in the future, where the cockatoo may find suitable of Rasa Island. More than 100 tree species have been conditions. However the situation has reached a point recorded in the mangrove stands and the coastal so critical that the species must be protected in an forest, and no less than 66 bird species, of which area that is easier to control some areas before it seven are globally threatened. A charismatic sea vanishes for good in the wild - all reasons that favour mammal found in the sea-grasses around the island the choice of Rasa Island as the focus of the is the Dugong Dugong dugon. programme. In the medium-term, once we know more about the breeding requirements of the species on Reforestation with native trees the island, one of the options might be to start with a hands-on management programme to increase the On Rasa Island, like in many other of the breeding output of the resident population, and use few remaining forest areas in the Philippines, trees excess offspring for re-introduction in other areas with larger diameters which are also potential as in the Philippines where the cockatoo already became nesting trees for hole breeders such as the Philippine extinct, but where conservation efforts have changed Cockatoo, are getting scarce due to illegal logging the situation such that a new population will be able activities. To counter the trend on Rasa Island, a to persist. We hope that we can live to see this come nursery for native trees was established in close true. o cooperation with the Panacan. The clearing of the area for the nursery was done in a joint effort under the participation of over fifty inhabitants of the community. The aim of the nursery, which already holds about 10,000 seedlings, is two- fold. First, to rehabilitate already degraded areas and provide claimants with valuable timber species to enrich and in the long-term replace existing coconut plantations with native forest trees. And second, to restock already depleted stocks of tree species which provide food and nesting holes for the Philippine cockatoo and other wildlife.

Education activities

The entities contributing to the nursery.

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