Latin America’s largest aviary receives nearly 300 rescued birds

The area comprises 5 thousand m² of Atlantic forest

Published on 31/03/2020 - 16:07 By Fabíola Sinimbu - Brasília

The release of 276 birds on Tuesday (Mar. 31) marked the inauguration of Latin America’s biggest aviary for the acclimatization of trafficked and mistreated animals. The area comprises some 5 thousand square meters of recovered Atlantic forest inside the Parque das Aves, in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná.

The park’s technical director, Paloma Basso, said the place was conceived to receive animals that are in no conditions to be brought back to a natural environment without supervision. Many suffered mutilations that could turn them into easy prey.

Altogether, 12 different species of the parrot family occupied the new aviary. Despite being mostly parekeets, Basso pointed out, the species vary in size but co-exist peacefully, with no possibility of aggression. “They can now explore the facilities naturally and develop their flight skills. It’s a fragment of the Atlantic forest that’s been designed exclusively for them,” she said.

The new aviary was dubbed Cecropia, after the tree species that played a key role in regenerating the area before the formation of the secondary forest. The goal is to make the environment as balanced as possible, also with the inclusion of other animal species in the future.

First, birds are monitored by the park’s team of experts during the adaptation period. “These are animals that went through several stages after they were rescued—ranging from quarantine to their classification into interaction groups, in smaller environments, inside the aviary. Now the fence is open so they can feel free to explore all of the space,” she added.

The last phase of the initiative is opening the aviary for visitation. This will only take place after the park is reopened. The facilities were closed amid concerns over the new coronavirus pandemic. “We decided to follow the planning, because this stage involved a small part of the team, who were able to work with all sanitary security required,” she concluded.

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Aline Leal / Nira Foster

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