Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Young Puerto Rican parrot rescued from invasive boa
A young Puerto Rican parrot was caught by a red-tailed boa in Maricao State Forest in western Puerto Rico.
Biologist Raúl Correa, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, freed the bird by cutting the bamboo stalk where the snake had trapped it.
Officials watched the parrot after the rescue, and it was flying with its flock again the next day.
Red-tailed boas are native to South America and were brought to Puerto Rico in the 1990s through the illegal exotic pet trade.
They are invasive on the island, where they threaten native wildlife, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot.
Puerto Rico also has a smaller native boa, but red-tailed boas can grow over 10 feet long and have no natural predators there to control their numbers.
The rescue saved one bird, but the broader threat to native wildlife remains.
A biologist rescued a young Puerto Rican parrot from a red-tailed boa in Maricao State Forest, Puerto Rico.
Raúl Correa of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service freed the bird by cutting the bamboo stalk where the snake had trapped it.
The parrot was observed for injuries and returned to flying with its flock the next day.
Red-tailed boas are invasive in Puerto Rico and threaten native wildlife, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot.
The snakes arrived from South America in the 1990s through the illegal exotic pet trade.
- Who
- Raúl Correa of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rescued a juvenile Puerto Rican parrot from a red-tailed boa.
- What
- Correa cut the bamboo stalk, causing the snake to release the bird.
- When
- Not stated. The parrot returned to flying with its flock a day after the rescue.
- Where
- Maricao State Forest, on the western end of Puerto Rico.
- Why
- The boa had trapped the parrot on a bamboo stalk. Red-tailed boas are an invasive species that puts native wildlife at risk.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Experience has shown that island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to snake invasions, and unfortunately Puerto Rico has no natural predators that can keep the numbers of these prolific, snakes in check.
Humans were responsible for introducing this scourge to the island, and are the only hope for mitigating the problem before it is too late for the native species.
Raúl Correa followed the parrots’ squawks and found a young bird trapped by a red-tailed boa on a bamboo stalk.
Correa cut the bamboo, causing the snake to lose its grip and release the parrot.
The parrot returned to flying with its flock.
- Location
- Maricao State Forest, western Puerto Rico
- Rescued bird
- Juvenile Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata)
- Snake
- Red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor)
- Rescuer
- Raúl Correa, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Return to flight
- The day after the rescue
Sources
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