Recovery of the Puerto Rican Parrot Progresses

Earlier this year, four releases of captive-bred Puerto Rican parrots took place across the recovery sites in El Yunque National Forest and the Maricao State Forest. A total of 28 parrots were released in Maricao and 30 in El Yunque, bringing the estimated wild population at each site to roughly 100 individuals per site.

Prior to release, biologists from the Río Abajo and El Yunque aviaries carefully select the parrots and place them in specially designed acclimation cages enriched weekly with native vegetation. Field teams monitor the birds’ flight behavior and conditioning throughout this period to help ensure the highest possible success once the parrots enter the wild. This information was shared to the public by the Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Para la Naturaleza, in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, is finalizing major rehabilitation work at the Río Abajo (Utuado) and Maricao breeding facilities. These upgrades are supported by an $8.6 million capital improvement grant awarded in 2019 and will help strengthen long-term recovery efforts for the species.