Saint Vincent Parrots, 2002

In July, Dr. Sharon Deem and Ms. Emily Ladwig, a senior bird keeper at the Bronx Zoo, traveled to Saint Vincent Island, the largest island in the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).  Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig were invited by the SVG Forestry Department and the International Saint Vincent Parrot Conservation Consortium to perform health and husbandry evaluations of parrots held in a captive breeding program and to provide recommendations for improvements.

The Saint Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii), the national bird of SVG, is listed on CITES Appendix I. It is one of the most endangered parrot species in the world, with only an estimated 500-600 parrots remaining in the wild.    In 1988, a captive breeding and conservation program was established on the Island with the stated mission of ensuring a healthy, stable captive population in the event that deforestation, illegal poaching, and/or a devastating hurricane or volcanic eruption cause  the  few  remaining  wild  parrots  to become extinct. Unfortunately, to date, there have been few chicks successfully hatched and raised to adulthood in this captive breeding program.

The captive population on SVG numbers approximately 60 birds.  Twenty-four are housed at the government-operated aviary and 36 are housed individually or in pairs at custodian homes.  Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig handled a total of 39 birds- all 24 at the aviary and 13 housed with private custodians.  Complete health evaluations were performed and samples collected for laboratory analyses, including hematology, chemistry profiles, and viral and bacterial exposure.  One health issue noted and of immediate concern for this breeding population is obesity, which lowers reproductive success.  In addition, it is possible that infectious diseases are playing a role in the morbidity and mortality of this population, although disease agent presence has been little studied until now. 

Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig took the opportunity to train the bird caretakers and a local veterinarian, Dr. Kathian Hackshaw.  Dr. Hackshaw is the SVG Chief Veterinary Officer responsible for the care of the parrots. A Vincentian trained in veterinary medicine in France, Dr. Hackshaw has an interest in the well-being of these parrots, but she has had minimal training in avian medicine.  During this visit Dr. Hackshaw picked up skills while working with Dr. Deem. 

Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig were featured in a 15-minute special on the SVG Nightly National News. The program included footage of Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig working as well as interviews during which the conservation   needs   of   this    highly endangered bird were discussed.  Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig also presented their preliminary findings and  recommendations for improving the captive breeding program to government personnel.  Dr. Deem and Ms. Ladwig will submit final recommendations to the Forestry Department and the Saint Vincent Parrot Conservation Consortium on improving the program and suggestions to better integrate captive and field research.

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