Echo Parakeet conservation

Species background

Common name:
Echo Parakeet

Latin name:
Alexandrinus eques

Endemic to:
Mauritius

IUCN status:
Vulnerable

Distribution:
• Black River Gorges National Park and surrounding areas
• Bambou range (introduced population)
• Ebony Forest (introduced population)

Threats:
• Habitat destruction
• Food shortages
• Predation from rats and macaques
• Nest site competitors, e.g, Ring-necked Parakeets, bees, Indian mynah birds
• Disease such as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease

Conservation opportunities:
• Establish new sub-populations in areas of high-quality forest
• Provision of artificial nest boxes and supplementary feeding

Ecology:
Feeds on leaves, flower buds, flowers, fruits

The Echo Parakeet is the only endemic parrot remaining in Mauritius. Once widespread across the island, numbers started to decline in the 19th century to an estimated 20 individuals in the 1990s. Decades of conservation work by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and the National Parks and Conservation Service has enabled the recovery of the population to around 800 individuals today. Concentrated in high densities in parts of the Black River Gorges National Park, the Echo Parakeet population is at risk to competition, disease outbreak and food shortages. As the birds, do not readily disperse, establishing new subpopulations by translocating individuals is an effective way to increase the population size and distribution, thereby reducing their risk of extinction and threat to disease outbreaks and food shortages.

Project objective

Establish breeding sub-populations of Echo Parakeet in the Chamarel and Bambous Mountain range to decrease the risk of extinction.

This is done by:

• Expanding its distribution
• Increasing the population size
• Maintaining genetic diversity and increasing gene flow
• Reducing the risk of disease and competition for resources, such as food and shelter, in the Black River Gorges National Park
• Build local capacity
• Restoring missing seed dispersal interactions, thereby aiding in the restoration of the forest
• Raising awareness

This project contributes to the IUCN/SSC Action points and is in line with the Government’s policies and objectives as defined in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.

Working in partnership with the National Parks and Conservation Service, since 2021, Ebony Forest has been harvesting chicks to hand-rear. The adults are subsequently released at Ebony Forest OR VALLÉE DE L’EST (BAMBOU RANGE).

Supplementary feeding year round

Bird monitoring

Installing and maintaining artificial nest boxes

Between 2018 and 2019, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation attempted to establish a population of Echo Parakeet at Ebony Forest, but the reintroduction failed as none of the birds stayed.

In 2021, our conservation team took over the project and pioneered a new approach under the guidance of Conservation Manager, Dr Nicolas Zuël. In collaboration with the National Parks & Conservation Service, our team trialled a new approach by hand-rearing younger birds, aged 35-40 day old. In the 2021/2022 season, 10 juveniles were hand-reared and released. Over the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, a further 36 birds were hand-reared and released. We have installed 11 nest boxes in the Chamarel area and continue to provide supplementary food as well as monitor the released birds.

For the 2024/2025 season, in partnership with the National Parks & Conservation Service, we are head starting 20 chicks to release at Vallée de L’Est in the Bambou Mountain range. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, whom manages the Black River Gorges National Park Echo Parakeet population provide information on the availability of birds and provide the chicks.

Denis

Jevika

Olivier

Syrielle

Ryan

Elisa S.