“Soft Release” Spix’s Macaw Reintroduction
Soft release describes a gradual return to the wild whereby an aviary breed Spix’ Macaw receives support, shelter and food until it is entirely able to fend for itself.
A Spix’s Macaw, by definition of being extinct in the wild, does not have wild savvy counterparts from which to learn and mimic once released back into the wild. Contrast that with a parrot baby with its wild parents that may spend the entire first year of his/her life following and learning from its wild parents how to survive in the wild: what foods to eat; what to sources avoid; how to avoid predators; where to search for food and water as the seasons change; how to communicate with its flock.
“Conservation happens in the wild.”
As part of the pre-release protocol, the captive bred Spix’s Macaw receives training from the aviary staff that includes:
- Familiarization and utilization of the natural foods necessary for survival in the wild.
- Flight training to build muscle strength, endurance, and flight skills.
- A large enclosure that allows the parrot to develop social, communication, and flocking skills with his/her release flock.
- Predator recognition and avoidance training.
- Large prerelease aviaries to allow the parrots to spend time in the outdoor enclosure and become familiar with the sights, sounds, smells, etc. of the area and develop an awareness of the activity of other wildlife in the area.
The accepted protocol for Aviary Staff and veterinarians is to use a long list of criteria to determine when a parrot is deemed ready and acclimated for reintroduction. A representative sampling of criteria for each individual Spix’s Macaw to graduate to reintroduction. Each macaw must:
- Be completely self-feeding with the food sources it will find in the wild.
- Demonstrate independence of humans.
- Be aware and display proper fear of natural predators and humans
- Demonstrate proper social, flocking, and flight skills
By definition of a “soft release”, once the Spix’s Macaws have been released, the facility staff ensure they can return to the enclosure for food or shelter whenever necessary. Research shows that soft-released animals have the highest survival rate. A soft release protocol can represent more than a 10 fold increase in survival.