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WILDLIFE

German macaws go forth and multiply in Brazil

A pair of endangered blue macaws of the kind made famous by the hit animated "Rio" movies arrived in Brazil from Germany on Tuesday as part of a drive to ensure the bird's survival.

Published: 4 March 2015 09:02 CET
German macaws go forth and multiply in Brazil
Photo: Rudiger Stehn/Wikimedia Commons

The two spix's macaws — among only 92 of the birds known to exist worldwide – were shipped to Sao Paulo, a spokesman for the Chico Mendes environmental institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) said.

"They will remain isolated for a fortnight on the Sao Paulo coast before heading to a scientific breeding center in the same state," institute spokesman Joao Freire said.

"They are brother and sister, 11 months old and not yet sexually mature. The intention is to have them breed later with Brazil's 11 ararinhas (spix's macaws), said Freire.

He added that once global numbers rose to 200 "their reintroduction into nature will commence."

The macaw is one of Earth's most endangered species, with trapping having contributed to numbers plummeting over the past three decades. The last one spotted in the wild was seen in 2000.

The two main characters of the successful "Rio" films – Blu and Jewel – are spix's macaws.

Originally hailing from the Curaca region in the notheastern state of Bahia the bird has unusual feet with two claws turned forwards and two backwards.

It feeds on seeds and fruit and uses its beak to help it climb trees.

In December, ICMbio announced the first births in 14 years of two macaws at the Sao Paulo breeding center.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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