cutting-edge science

Helps South Africa's only endemic parrot

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The Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus, which occurs in fragments of mistbelt forest in the Eastern Cape, KwaZuluNatal and Limpopo and the coastal forests of the former Transkei, has been the focus of research since 1992. One of the major findings has been the close link between Cape Parrots and yellowwood trees, which the birds use for both nesting and feeding. The felling of yellowwoods in the past has caused the species' range to shrink over time and, coupled with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease and the poaching of birds for the avicultural trade, has placed considerable pressure on wild Cape Parrot populations. As research has highlighted, and with fewer than 1800 individuals left in the wild, this threatened species relies on the conservation of indigenous forests for its survival.

Genetic tools for Cape Parrot conservation