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Araucárias National Park is one of the last preserved areas of the Araucária Forest and is home to a diverse range of animal species. However, deforestation and illegal removal of animals from the region led to the local extinction of the vinaceous Amazon in the 1980s. Currently this parrot is classified as endangered. Also known as the purple-breasted parrot, it is often targeted by illegal animal trafficking due to its beauty and unique characteristics, such as the purple feathers on its chest and red feathers on the upper part of its beak. To reverse the local extinction of this species, a reintroduction project began in the National Park in 2010. This project aims to rehabilitate, release, and monitor parrots from illegal trafficking, voluntary surrenders, rescues, and those born in zoos and wildlife aviaries. After health and flight ability assessments, the parrots undergo behavioral training to adapt to life in the wild. They are then identified, equipped with monitoring devices, and transferred to an aviary within the park for adaptation and soft release. In addition to reintroduction efforts, the project conducts environmental education activities and provides employment and income opportunities for women in local communities. It also contributes to the production of scientific knowledge about the vinaceous parrot and the reintroduction of wild animals, resulting in conference publications and scientific articles. To date around 250 parrots have met the health, behavioral, and genetic criteria and have gained freedom!

Dr. Kanaan is the current president of the Instituto Fauna Brasil, a member of the IUCN-SSC conservation translocation expert committee, and member of the advisory boards of Refauna and Clay Hill Memorial Forest. She is the creator and coordinator of the vinaceous-breasted parrot reintroduction project and a red howler monkey reintroduction project on Santa Catarina Island. She received her PhD in animal science from Purdue University in 2008 and was a postdoctoral fellow in ecology and agrosystems from the Federal University of Santa Catarina.

Contact info@theparrotclub.org for a Zoom link.