We saw a full-fledged baby-boom this summer; following last year’s twin hatching in August, this time around we welcomed the arrival of not two but three blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara araranua) chicks on July 20, with a total population of now 14 macaws, an all-time high at our institution!
Yet to be sexed, the chicks first left the safety of their den around August 20 and are expected to become fully independent in 1.5 to 2 weeks. They have been nursed by zookeepers ever since fledging.
King-sized and rather flamboyant members of the parrot family, blue-and-yellow macaws are truly impressive to look at. They are highly intelligent and easy to teach or train, but very sensitive; they also need extensive care and a lot of playtime. Their looks, skills and temperament make them rather popular with private owners but they require a permit issued by CITES.
Native to the tropical rainforests and savannahs of South and Central America, blue-and-yellow macaws are threatened primarily by habitat loss and excessive illegal trade, hence their inclusion in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Debrecen Zoo and Amusement Park
