41 Spix’s Macaws Reintroduced to Brazil After Being Extinct in the Wild

The reintroduction effort, led by Vantara and ACTP, marks a critical step in restoring the species to its native Caatinga biome.

Spix’s macaws, declared extinct in the wild in 2000, are being reintroduced to their native habitat in Bahia, Brazil.
A total of 41 birds, selected based on health and pedigree, were transferred from a breeding facility in Berlin to a release center in Brazil on January 28, 2025.
The reintroduction is part of a global program supported by Vantara and the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP), with Vantara providing expertise and resources.
This follows earlier successes, including the release of 20 macaws in 2022, which led to the first wild-born chicks in over two decades.
The program aims to establish a sustainable wild population of Spix’s macaws, with ongoing efforts to release additional birds and support breeding initiatives.