First sighting of eggs and chicks of the red-necked Amazon parrot (Amazona arausiaca) using an intra-cavity video probe
Abstract Two clutches of the red-necked Amazon parrot, or Jaco (Amazona arausiaca), are described for the first time from intra-cavity video recordings of natural nests in Dominican rainforest trees. Using a mini-camera mounted on a telescoping pole, a clutch of two live chicks (∼8 weeks old) and one dead chick (∼5 weeks old at time […]
First captive breeding of the imperial parrot (Amazona imperialis)
Abstract We describe the rearing and development of the first imperial parrot (Amazona imperialis) hatched and raised in captivity. A single egg was hen-incubated for 28 days, and the chick was parent-fed for ∼14 days, after which it was removed for hand-rearing. Similar to wild, parent-reared imperial nestlings, the chick developed fully within 12 weeks, […]
Conservation caring: Measuring the influence of zoo visitors’ connection to wildlife on pro-conservation behaviors
Zoos in the 21st century are striving to make effective contributions to conservation. Although zoos are extremely popular and host over 600 million visitors worldwide, one challenge zoos face is how to effectively engage visitors and raise awareness and action for conservation. To this end, zoos commonly rely on charismatic megafauna, which have been shown […]