The sad news for human action continues to appear in the news, this time it is the turn of the birds. The Spix’s macaw has been declared extinct in its natural habitat, and it causes empathy because this species has become known thanks to a popular movie. But the reality is that there are many more birds that suffer the same fate.
In 2011, the animated film Rio captured everyone’s hearts with its impressive message, an endangered bird; in it Blu, a captive-bred Spix’s Macaw, arrives in Brazil to mate with the last known wild member of his species, a female named Jewel. Years later the sad reality is confirmed. The Spix’s Macaw has been declared extinct in its natural habitat.
The bird owes its name to the German physician, explorer and zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix.
(Source: BirdLife)
Extinct in its habitat: is there hope?
The Spix’s macaw, scientifically named Cyanopsitta spixii, is one of eight species poised to have their extinctions confirmed or considered highly likely, according to a new study from BirdLife International.
The eight-year study used a new statistical approach to analyze 51 critically endangered species, quantifying three factors at once: the intensity of threats, the timing and reliability of records, and the timing and amount of search efforts. for the species.
As a result, five of the eight confirmed or suspected extinctions occurred on the South American continent, four of them in Brazil, reflecting the devastating effects of the high rate of deforestation in this part of the world.
Expectations
According to BirdLife International there is still hope for the Spix.
Although the Brazilian endemic species was apparently wiped out in the wild as a result of deforestation and other factors such as the creation of a dam and capture for the wild trade. An estimated population of 60-80 persists in captivity, hence the suggested classification changes to Extinct In nature.
A single sighting in 2016 raised hopes that the species may persist in the wild, but it is now suspected to be an escapee from captivity. Is there hope for this species and all those that are affected by human action? It’s not up to them, it’s up to us.
Sources:
Bird Life International