Red-tailed Amazon Parrot

The red-tailed Amazon, which is locally known as "Papagaio da Cara Roxa," is very endangered. It is the symbol of the Guaragueçaba Protected Area in the Atlantic Rainforest that is located on the Southern coast of Brazil It is disappearing because of the pet trade and habitat destruction. Nine out of ten parrots captured to be pets die before reaching their final destination. Most experts conclude that it is extremely hard to breed this parrot in captivity.

It is special because it can only be found in the Atlantic Rainforest. The red-tailed Amazon has become a symbol of the efforts to conserve one of the Earth's most biologically diverse ecosystems, the Serra do Mar and the Guaraqueçaba region of southern Brazil, which was declared a "World Heritage" site by the United Nations in 1992.

You can help save the red-tailed Amazon by joining the "Adopt a Parrot" program that the students of The International School of Curitiba are sponsoring.

The red-tailed Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis) is considered one of the most endangered Amazon parrots in the world. It is estimated that there are only 3000 to 4000 red-tailed Amazons left in the wild. They're dying because every year thousands of birds are smuggled across borders packed in large quantities into containers too small to hold them. Many die painfully during the journey from hunger, thirst, broken limbs, or simply from fright. Nine out of every ten captured die before they reach their final destination or buyer. The loss of their habitat and difficulties encountered breeding them in captivity has reduced their population greatly. They are only found around the tropical coastline of Brazil in the southern states of São Paulo, Paranà, and Santa Catarina.

To save them, you can participate in the "Adopt a Parrot" project that the students of the International School of Curitiba are sponsoring. The money donated will help support research, environmental education, and the design and maintenance of a future parrot rescue center. You can also help by not buying wild birds. For more information contact Mr. Tim Kenny's fifth grade class at the International School of Curitiba, Brazil.