By Melissa Donchi
HEALESVILLE Sanctuary will release more than 40 captive-bred orange-bellied parrots back into the Tasmanian wilderness to supplement the declining population.
The sanctuary has been working with the National Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team on a captive-breeding program for the critically endangered species since 1991 taking the birds back to their Tasmanian home each year.
Healesville Sanctuary’s Threatened Species supervisor Iain Stych said the decline in the bird’s population is thought to be due to degradation of the species’ natural habitat.
“Fragmentation and degradation of over-wintering habitats is the prime cause of decline in this species, along with predation by foxes and cats, competition for food from introduced finch species and competition for nest site with starlings,” Mr Stych said.
“Other factors such as disease, and loss of genetic variation within the population are also likely to have had an impact on population declines.”
The parrots are due to be sent to Tasmania early next week, for release at Birches Inlet by the Department of Primary Industry and Water and Healesville Sanctuary staff.
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