Africa-Press – Lesotho. A total of 10 Echo parakeets were released, this morning, at Ebony Forest, in Chamarel, with the aim to increase the existing Echo parakeet population around the island.
The birds were approximately 90 days old and are considered big enough to be released in nature. They will however still be provided with supplementary feed in forms of pellets until they are completely independent.
The Director of the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS), Mr Kevin Ruhomaun, and the Conservation Manager of Ebony Forest Ltd, Mr Nicolas Zuel, among others, were present on this occasion.
In a statement, Mr Ruhomaun highlighted that this release is one of the NPCS’s project to restore the Echo parakeet population, currently being carried out with Ebony Forest Ltd, which is a private organisation.
The aim of this collaboration, he observed, is to favour the development of the Echo parakeet population in the region, and outside the national parks.
He pointed out that this is the first time that the NPCS, under the aegis of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, is working in collaboration with a company from the private sector and as such, a memorandum of understanding will soon be signed with Ebony Forest Ltd to enhance conservation efforts and share expertise.
As for Mr Zuel, he indicated that the birds were initially fed with special hand rearing formula. The quantity and consistency of the feed was gradually increased as the birds grew and were better able to digest the feed.
Gradually fruits were placed in their nest boxes and inside the release aviaries where the birds are kept. However, he added, even after the fledging, the birds were still hand reared until they were able to feed by themselves.
About the Echo parakeet Once present all around the island, only some 20 individuals were believed to exist in the wild in Mauritius in the 1980’s. The decline was due to the destruction and degradation of their forest habitat for agricultural purpose.
Moreover, the introduced ring neck Parakeet competes for feed and nesting sites, while introduced predators like rats and macaques also compete for food and raid nests. The Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease as well as extreme weather events such as cyclones are possible threats for the Echo Parakeet.
After long years of conservation works by the NPCS, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and other partners, the Echo parakeet population has recovered to over 800 individuals.
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