Macaws run out of space in Venezuela’s capital : NPR
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Blue and gold macaws, originally native to the Amazon, have thrived in Caracas over the past two decades, becoming a beloved symbol of the city as residents feed and bond with them.
- These macaws depend on the royal palm tree (chaguaramo) for nesting, specifically old, decaying trunks hollowed by insects, but city authorities are cutting down these trees to beautify public spaces and prevent hazards.
- Biologist Maria Lourdes Gonzalez warns that removing these nesting sites could cause a sharp decline in the macaw population in Caracas, as no suitable breeding alternatives exist in the city.
- The macaws were likely introduced in the 1970s by pet owners who released them, and their population has grown due to favorable weather, abundant food, and lack of natural predators.
- Due to limited funding, Gonzalez plans to rely on volunteers for a new population census to assess the impact of tree removal, while locals express concern over the potential loss of this colorful urban wildlife symbol.
