Echo parakeet off the critical list thanks to conservation effort

13/09/2006 00:00:00 A bird whose numbers once dwindled to just eight known individuals including only two females has been removed from the critical list thanks to a conservation effort spearheaded by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

The echo parakeet is one of nine endemic birds remaining on Mauritius, but has been severely impacted by deforestation and invasive species. Just a few years ago it was the rarest parrot on the planet but now 320 of these birds fly freely in the Mauritian forests resulting in it being downgraded from critically endangered to endangered. Invasive species
Invasive species had been the biggest factor in the bird’s decline. Introduced plants such as the guava have spread rapidly across Mauritius, preventing the growth of native trees on which the birds depend for food. Animals such as the black rat have raided nests and competed with the birds for native fruits.

Durrell and its partner organisation The Mauritian Wildlife Fund combated these threats by restoring areas of its natural habitat, removing invasive species, planting native trees and providing feeding stations. They received extensive support from The World Parrot Trust, Chester Zoo and the International Vet Group.

Hand rearing
Techniques which the charities used to successfully increase numbers of the pink pigeon and Mauritius kestrel were adapted. To ensure a high survival rate in the face of natural food shortages Durrell removed all but one hatchling from echo parakeet nests for hand rearing. This reduced the burden on the parent birds and prevented infant mortality.

Dr Carl Jones MBE, a Durrell scientist who has spent 20 years fighting to save the birdlife of Mauritius said: ‘There is a high natural wastage in birds so our intervention ensured the survival of a far greater number of hatchlings.

‘This is the first time a species has ever gone from being such a rarity to being down-listed in such a short time. It is a major success for all the charities who have been working together on this project.’

Courtesy of Durrell.