Page 10 - aruba-today-20240104

Thursday 4 January 2024 locAl
A10

The first Yellow-Shouldered Amazon take free flight into aruba’s nature

Fundacion Parke Nacio- Boa Constrictor is not the cause of
nal Aruba (FPNA) today the disappearance of the Lora in
announced the reintro- Aruba given the Boa was only ‘in-
duction of the locally troduced’ to the island in the early
extinct yellow-shoul- 1990s.
dered amazon, also
known locally as ‘Lora’, The boa is not considered
back into Aruba’s nature. among the main threats
Out of the 25 surviving Lora to the survival of the Lora
that were illegally smuggled today as they have
by sea into Aruba among limited food intake in
other poached wildlife in comparison to ‘warm
2022, the first 9 Lora were suc- b l o o d e d ’
cessfully released this morning p r e d a -
into Aruba’s nature in Parke Na- tors but
cional Arikok, as part of FPNA’s also in-
reintroduction plan.

FPNA is expected to
release the remain- c r e a s i n g l y will be taking necessary con-
ing Lora during two other ‘release occur in urbanized ar- servation actions - including sci-
events’ over the course of the eas. Another significant threat that entific research and monitoring,
coming 2 weeks. The reintroduc- caused the extinction of the Lora is raising awareness, driving educa-
tion of the Lora is part of FPNA’s the disappearance of their habitat tion and community engagement
Species Conservation & Reintro- due to deforestation for develop- - while continuing to push for policy
duction Program, which aims at ment. development and enforcement to
establishing a self-sustaining wild protect the Lora alongside other
population in Aruba over the next Why is the reintroduction of the native bird species.
decades. Lora important? impact on the Lora.
The Lora played a distinctive eco- To mitigate the threats caused by
Why did the Lora go extinct in logical function for the island, par- humans, FPNA will embark on a How can you help?
Aruba? ticularly in seed dispersal which national awareness campaign to It takes a village to do nature con-
The Lora (Amazona barbadensis) contributed to the proliferation of educate the community of Aru- servation, and doing it right takes
has been a locally extirpated spe- specific native plants and trees, ba on importance of protecting time and requires collaboration
cies in Aruba for over half a century that in turn, supported a broader the Lora. FPNA is also developing with the entire community of Aru-
yet continues to hold a significant range of wildlife. Therefore, the re- education materials to be shared ba.
place in the island’s heritage and introduction of the Lora is not only with the community of Aruba and
in the hearts of the community. A important, but it is necessary as it specifically with schools across the FPNA would like to ask residents
parrot species that is known for be- benefits local habitats, enhances island. As part of the reintroduc- and visitors to Aruba to help us with
ing highly social and intelligent and biodiversity, and contributes to the tion, FPNA will continue its efforts to monitoring the tagged Lora and
that once graced many locals with overall health of the different eco- provide the Lora with suitable habi- keep their eyes and ears open and
its magnificent presence roaming systems of Aruba. FPNA’s goal is to tats and protection, and with that report any sightings via WhatsApp
freely in Aruba’s nature, until they a self-sustaining Lora population in FPNA is working on parallel conser- to FPNA’s Wildlife Hotline at +297
went extinct in 1947. Populations of Aruba, by reintroducing and restor- vation efforts such as its Flora Bio- 592 4476 or email us at info@aruba-
this species continue to exist in iso- ing the Lora’s wild population for diversity Enhancement Program nationalpark.org. If a Lora is sight-
lated places on Bonaire and Cura- future generations. where native and threatened spe- ed, please provide the informa-
çao, in addition to northern parts cies of shrubs and trees will be used tion about the location – including
of Venezuela and the Venezuelan It is important to keep in mind that for habitat restoration, including a GPS location of where the Lora
islands of Margarita and La Blan- the release of the 25 surviving Lora those that are food sources for the was seen - and how many were
quilla. The Lora has been assessed this year is only the beginning and Lora. In addition, FPNA is doubling observed. Do not interfere with the
for the IUCN Red List of Threatened will require annual supplementa- down on its efforts to commence Lora. Be respectful, keep your dis-
Species in 2021 but current esti- tion to the wild population before it promoting nature friendly gardens tance and keep cats and dogs at
mates the total wild population to becomes large enough to be self- and gardening among the local bay, do not feed or try to capture
be less than 10.000 individuals. For sustaining. Currently the Lora are 1 garden owners. them – that would violate the law
Aruba specifically, the Lora is pro- and a half years old and will only protecting this species.
tected by law under the Nature start reproducing at approximately The Boa Constictor, a non-native FPNA, its valued partners and vol-
Ordinance (AB 1995 no. 2, Art. 4 / 7 years of age. As such, it will take species in Aruba remains a poten- unteers will actively be monitoring
AB 2017 no. 48). decades before a self-sustaining tial predator that is impossible to the tagged Lora for the coming
population can be seen in Aruba. eradicate given their large popu- period and values the support of
To date, there are many threats lation on the island, their elusive the community in reporting any
to the Lora populations, of which How to mitigate threats to the habits and successful reproduc- sightings.
most are of human origin (Birdlife newly introduced Lora population tion. However, research has shown
International 2017, Silvius 1991). To achieve the goal of a self-sus- that the Boa is no longer reproduc- A heartfelt thank you goes out to
For Aruba in particularly, the Lora taining population in Aruba, FPNA ing in protected nature areas but every single associate of Funda-
was extirpated because of poach- rather in urban areas, its preferred cion Parke Nacional Aruba who
ing for pet trade or killed for being environment due to higher food contributed to the reintroduction
considered an agricultural pest availability. FPNA will continue with of the Lora to Aruba today, and to
(Voous 1983). In addition to human its invasive species management all local partners and international
incurred threats, predators such as program and the removal of Boas partners World Parrot Trust and
domestic cats and rats also pose a encountered in protected nature Stichting Vogelpark AviFauna for
big threat to the survival of the Lo- areas and future Lora roosting and coming to Aruba for this most im-
ras. Contrary to popular belief, the breeding sites so as to reduce their portant and emotional day.q