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NEWS & VIEWS



ASSESSING THE STATUS OF THE GREY PARROT


The African Bird Club Conservation Fund has allocated £900 (approx.

USS1,800) to enable Irene Madindou and Ronald Mulwa to assess the current

status of a small population of Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus, probably

numbering fewer 10 pairs, which survive in the Kakamega Forest in western

Kenya, close to the border with Uganda. Irene Madindou and Ronald Mulwa

will attempt to assess the effects of the pet trade and habitat destruction on

this, the last remaining population in Kenya. They will seek to document the

current population in the Kakamega Forest, to develop a monitoring protocol

for population trends, and examine habitat quality and trade activities. They

will question local people, to assess the extent of their involvement in and

attitude towards the (presumably illegal) trade in Grey Parrots. This species

previously occurred also in the Nandi Forest in western Kenya.


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WORLD’S LARGEST FREE-FLIGHT AVIARY


In International Zoo News Vol.54, No.5 (2007), pp.272-275, Isabel

Wentzel wrote about the new Birds of Eden Free Flight Sanctuary (website:

www.birdsofeden.co.za) outside Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, South

Africa, said to be the world’s largest free-flight aviary (the world’s largest

free-flight aviary was previously said to have been the one in the KL (Kuala

Lumpur) Bird Park in Malaysia). The South African structure spans an entire

forest valley and consists of 70% indigenous forest, with the remainder made

up of planted garden, lawns, grassland and several ponds formed by the

damming of a watercourse. The walkway starts close to the forest floor and

winds its way up towards the forest canopy, passing behind a waterfall on the

way. A 48m (approx. 150ft) long suspension bridge - bathed in mist from a

special misting system - spans the gorge and there is a 200-seat amphitheatre

for special functions, two restaurants, a wine bar and a curio shop, etc.


The aviary houses approximately 2,000 birds of 180 different species,

including various species of parrots, hornbills, toucans, turacos, doves,

starlings, thrushes, cranes, flamingos, ibises, swans and other waterfowl,

along with tamarins and fruit bats. The inhabitants include previously caged

pet birds that went through a process of rehabilitation before being released

into the aviary.



