The Twycross Zoo is home to many amazing birds, but two red-fronted macaws are definitely the hottest new power couple on the block. The zoo decided to become a matchmaker for these endangered love birds, in an attempt to save their species from extinction.
Red-fronted macaws are a pretty rare species endemic to a small semi-desert area of Bolivia. They remain listed as “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, with less than 300 birds left alive in the wild as their global population continues to decline.
The Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, England is playing an important role in conservation efforts to save this species. They decided to set up two red-fronted macaws from Edinburgh Zoo and Welsh Mountain Zoo in the hope they’ll breed and help keep their species alive.
Dr Rebecca Biddle, director of conservation at the Twycross Zoo, said that they’re delighted to welcome a brand-new breeding pair to the zoo, and described the breeding efforts as a necessary and important step towards saving this species.
“Red-fronted macaws are among the most endangered species of parrot on the planet, so bringing this pair to Twycross to hopefully facilitate breeding further down the line, is a necessary and important step to save this species,” Biddle said in a statement.
