Researchers in last-ditch bid to save endangered orange-bellied parrot from extinction

RESEARCHERS will begin emergency intervention of Melaleuca’s orange-bellied parrot population in a bid to save the species from extinction.

There are only three breeding pairs of orange-bellied parrots left in the wild. Picture: MARK HOLDSWORTH

RESEARCHERS will begin emergency intervention of Melaleuca’s orange-bellied parrot population this week in an attempt to save the species from extinction.

Just three female orange-bellied parrots survive in the wild, with 11 males also surviving the winter migration from Victoria to Tasmania.

Only 21 parrots returned to Melaleuca to breed last year.

The numbers make the parrot Australia’s most endangered bird, Australian National University researcher Dejan Stojanovic said.

Dr Stojanovic and his team — which has also been working with swift parrot populations — will be flown into Melaleuca on Tuesday to begin intensive intervention to ensure wild nestlings remain as healthy as possible.

A crowd-funding campaign will begin tomorrow in an effort to raise the $60,000 needed to conduct the intervention program.

To support the crowd-funding campagin, go to https://pozible.com/project/operation-obp

Originally published as Researchers in last-ditch bid to save endangered orange-bellied parrot from extinction