Scarlet Macaws released back into wild in Cayo

By Zoila Palma:  Fifteen scarlet macaws were released into the wild in the Cayo District on August 10, 2026, following a rehabilitation and monitoring effort led by Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) in collaboration with the Forest Department.

The parrots had been rescued and placed at a rehabilitation facility, where they remained for approximately 100 days before being prepared for release.

According to FCD, the macaws were placed at the facility because of the high risk of being poached or dying when three chicks are found in a nesting cavity. The birds were cared for under a strict protocol established by the Forest Department. After being rescued, they were fed and eventually transferred to a flight cage, where they developed their flying skills and prepared for survival in the wild.

On Monday morning, the cage was opened and the macaws were allowed to return to their natural environment. The birds initially gathered to feed on fruits and nuts before gradually flying out of the flight cage. While some flew longer distances, others remained closer to the release site as they adjusted to their surroundings.

FCD said its Research Unit has also been conducting biological monitoring of scarlet macaws since early March. The monitoring focuses on the species’ natural cavities and helps researchers maintain a presence around nesting sites while ensuring that chicks are developing safely until they are ready to leave the nest. Personnel presence also helps deter poachers, although FCD reported that two chicks were lost to poachers this year.

FCD noted that illegal wildlife trade remains a significant threat to scarlet macaws.

FCD and the Forest Department maintain a binational task force that shares information and coordinates interventions to address wildlife trafficking. However, the organizations say it remains difficult to determine the exact number of macaws lost to the illegal trade each year, with some poached birds reportedly taken into Guatemala by Guatemalan “guauqeros,” or macaw poachers.

The release of the 15 macaws marks another important milestone in ongoing efforts to increase Belize’s scarlet macaw population, which FCD says has now surpassed 500 individuals.

During the last national survey, approximately 350 individual parrots were known to be present in the country. FCD says that while the population appears to be expanding, continued monitoring, protection and conservation efforts remain essential to safeguard the species.

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