This is a continuation of a 2012 CREOi-funded project. The blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is a critically endangered macaw endemic of Bolivia. At present, fewer than 150 individuals exist in the wild, which presents one of the primary limits to reproduction and population growth. In 2013, after approval from the Bolivian government, the first 6 (of 60) captive individuals were moved from the United Kingdom to Bolivia in order to establish the first Captive Breeding and Release Center for the species in its natural habitat. As part of the previous CREOi project, we determined the genetic variability of the wild population, and selected potential release sites. To conduct the first reintroductions, three main activities must be completed. First, the macaws at the captive breeding center must be trained prior to release to identify wild fruits as food and to avoid predators. Second, telemetry devices that will be deployed on reintroduced individuals must be tested. And third, the genetics of captive individuals must be profiled to assess their relatedness to each other and the wild population, to avoid inbreeding and maximize genetic diversity.
After just two months, macaws had adapted surprisingly quickly and well to a natural diet of local wild fruits, seeds and vegetables (selected based on field studies of wild populations), after systematic incremental changes from their captive diet of foreign items. The entire group was eating 14 wild plant species, and each individual recognized an average of 10 wild items as food. Working with a trained Harris hawk and captive boa constrictor, the macaws were introduced to natural predators, and the entire group responded with alarm calls against the presence of a predator after their first exposure.
Two telemetry options were tested using harnesses and dummy transmitters. Modifications are still in progress and dummy transmitters will be replaced with active transmitters one week before release. Finally, genetic analyses using microsatellites were run on captive individuals at the University of Buenos Aires. The first captive group had an allele not present in the wild individuals profiled, suggesting genetic diversity from the wild population and that the captive individuals are good candidates for reintroduction.