The Taricaya EcoReserve was founded in 2001 and is located in the Tambopata province of Peru. It is comprised of a group of people dedicated to the conservation of the Amazon rainforest as a place to live in harmony with nature. Located on 476 hectares (about 1,180 acres), Taricaya is comprised largely of primary forest, making it one of the most biodiverse and ecologically significant forests on Earth.

In 2008, Taricaya opened the first Rescue Center in Peru. Its mission is to rescue and rehabilitate a wide variety of animals, from turtles, snakes, and ocelots to caimans, tapirs, and scarlet macaws. Over 500 animals have been helped so far.

Parrots Heal at Taricaya

When the government confiscates parrots due to illegal trafficking, they go to the Rescue Center for rehabilitation and assessment. It is also illegal in Peru to keep native wild animals as pets. If found, the birds often have clipped wing feathers and cannot fly. It often takes two years for a bird’s flight muscles to build up again, and for its feathers to molt and regrow sufficiently for flight in the wild. In other sadder cases, wings may have been broken, and the bird must stay permanently at the Rescue Center.

The Rescue Center is staffed largely by volunteers who assess and take care of the birds while they are monitored for health and evaluated for future release back into the wild. The veterinarians also conduct a variety of lab tests to ensure the parrots will not introduce any illness back into the forest upon their release.

Here are some of the parrots recently surrendered to Taricaya for help. Their team will do what they can to get them ready to be wild again, if possible! Since the government provides no financial assistance for the animals turned over to Taricaya, unfortunately, there is a limit to how many animals the center can help within a very tight budget. This month’s Lafeber donation goes to support the Taricaya Rescue Center and its worthy efforts!