Avaliação de técnicas de manejo na sobrevivência e comportamento de papagaios-verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva, PSITTACIDAE) translocados.

Abstract

Translocation has constantly been mentioned as an alternative to the conservation of endangered species. The use of captive-raised animals in these processes is sometimes the only option to recover a declining population. The Blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) is one of the most popular worldwide captivity species; consequently, it is among the most received species by the Wild Animal Triage Centers in Brazil. Brazilian wildlife managers frequently release the received parrots into nature without any behavioral or health evaluation, and with no post-release monitoring. Thirty-one parrots were soft released and monitored during 13 months in a Cerrado area of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Three (10%) released parrots dead and five (16%) disappeared soon after release and no behavioral recordings or data about their destinations were available. Ten parrots (32%) showed behaviors that suggest adaptation to wildlife and 13 individuals (42%) expressed behaviors more linked to the life in captivity. One released pair and one female paired with a wild male, reproduced. The number of recorded behaviors increased significantly over time after release. There was a tendency of decrease in all captive-related behaviors and of increase in wildlife-related behaviors. Supplementary food use diminished as the parrots explore natural food resources. This study indicates that confiscated ex-pets parrots can be good candidates to translocation, but a training program should be applied to them prior to the release in order to diminish undesirable behaviors and the chance to approach and be re-captured by humans. To release the parrots in areas with native populations can increase the behavioral skills of the birds, since native parrots can act as teachers for the naïve birds. Besides, the use of not-endangered species in conservation programs can be interesting to create protocols to conservation programs of rare and endangered species.