Conservation specialists from San Diego Zoo Global look for diseases that may impact wild populations of one colorful species.
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00:00Música
00:06So we've traveled approximately a thousand kilometers from San Diego to Madeira Chihuahua
00:11in order to work with Pona Tura and work with the thick-billed parrot in its habitat.
00:19We're very proud to be partners together to help conserve the thick-billed parrot.
00:23One thing that we bring to the table is that we've elevated how the parrot is viewed in the local community.
00:32San Diego Zoo Global is here to help understand the threats to the thick-billed parrot.
00:40And in particular, we're looking at the potential for diseases to impact the wild populations.
00:46So far, we don't have any evidence that viruses or bacteria have a significant impact on the population.
00:53However, we do know that ectoparasites can cause serious mortality in the chicks.
01:00And we think that that's going to have an overall effect on populations.
01:04So in addition to doing a physical exam on each of the chicks, evaluating whether or not they have full crops,
01:11looking at their hydration status and vitality, body condition, feather condition, presence or absence of ectoparasites,
01:19we take biological samples. And that includes oral swabs, cloacal swabs, and a blood sample as well.
01:26And one of the things that we do with the samples is look to see whether the animal is also healthy on the inside.
01:32And one specific thing that we're looking for are viruses or other pathogens that might be introduced
01:39and maybe cause a problem for the population.
01:42And so we come year after year and we take swabs and we take blood from these chicks.
01:47And then we're looking for new pathogens that might be introduced into the population that we might have to do something about.
01:54One of the things that we've done on this trip is help to protect the trees against predators.
02:02So we added some flashing around the trees so that the carnivores can't climb the trees and raid the nests and take the chicks,
02:09which we've experienced early in this trip.
02:11So we're very lucky we get to stay at some cabins at the base of the mountain and we sort of drive up each day to do the sampling for the parrots.
02:24And if you're lucky in the morning you get to see a whole flock of parrots sort of flying over from their nest over to their feeding grounds.
02:32And then of course later in the day you'll see the opposite, you'll see whole flocks in the air flying back to their nest sites.
02:39And that's really nice. It sort of, it reminds you that there are still a lot out there, that the work that we're doing is good.
02:46Yes, and it's just great to see that.
02:49It took about ten years to make the connections and meet the people, to be able to come to the field and experience the parrots' natural history on a first-hand basis.
03:00And it's been an incredible experience.