COVER STORY: PARROTS
IN 1999, shortly after the rediscovery of the yellow-eared parrot () in the Central Andes of Colombia, the Loro Parque Fundación commenced its support of the conservation endeavour to prevent its extinction and bring about its recovery. The LPF support continues unbroken to this day. Currently, it is assisting the work of Fundación Vida Silvestre (Wildlife Foundation), a Colombian NGO, and during these 25 years the success of the actions taken has resulted in the level of threat to the species being downgraded from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable. Not only has the population increased very substantially, to more than 2,600 from the original 81 individuals1999, but the geographical distribution also continues to expand.
