A Stopgate Against Extinction

This past week, my newsfeed saw several friends posting an ominous article about bird extinctions.  Most of them opened with the revelation that the Spix's macaw - best known as the bird that the animated film Rio is based on - has been declared extinct.

Spix's Macaw heads list of first bird extinctions confirmed this decade

What most of those articles fail to mention is the three very important words that follow.  In. The. Wild.  Spix's macaw is now most likely extinct in the wild.  That means that there are still some left.  That means that there is still a chance to save the species.

As a matter of fact, the population of these extremely rare parrots under human care is inching upwards.  This is an excellent example of why zoos, aquariums, and other managed wildlife facilities are needed.  Even as Spix's macaw winked out of existence in the wild, some were left under the care of persons knowledgeable enough about the care and husbandry of these birds that they were able to collaborate and form a breeding program. 

What's tragic isn't that it came to this.  What's tragic is that there are many endangered species - the vaquita coming to mind especially these days - which we were not able to do this for, for one reason or another.  The vaquita, I suspect, will very soon be extinct.  Without a qualifier.  Spix's macaw, I feel, still has a chance.

Spix's Macaw, Copyright Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation