We’re thrilled to share an inspiring update from El Salvador, where five confiscated Yellow-naped Amazons have been given a second chance at life in the wild. This milestone is part of the ongoing efforts by El Salvador’s Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MARN) to rehabilitate these Critically Endangered parrots and reintroduce them to their natural habitat.
Earlier this year, Noelia, our dedicated Yellow-naped Amazon Coordinator, joined forces with MARN at their Santa Rita protected area to train the local parrot care team. Through comprehensive onsite training, she equipped them with essential skills for preparing the Amazons for release. This training emphasized reducing human contact, identifying wild foods, and flight conditioning. The team learned techniques for capturing and marking birds, creating enrichment activities, setting up perches to prevent feather damage, and supporting the birds in mastering long-distance flight.
Thanks to these efforts, the Amazons showed remarkable progress, growing more confident and demonstrating improved flying and foraging abilities. Now, after a rigorous rehabilitation program, they have been successfully reintroduced to the wild. This release is a significant step forward in conserving El Salvador’s native parrot species and restoring populations affected by illegal trafficking.