Official Note on the conservation of the Spix’s macaw and the fight against circovirus

The Brazilian government has invested in the conservation of the Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) since the 1990s, carrying out research and conservation actions in the species’ natural range and coordinating ex situ conservation efforts to reestablish the population in the wild. 

As there is no viable wild population of Spix’s macaws, the individuals under human care are the only hope for restoration. It is therefore essential that the Brazilian State act with responsibility and caution, seeking a balance between the need to maintain the ex situ population in the long term and the desire of advancing with the release of Spix’s macaws into the wild. 

In the current context, all measures adopted by Brazil are guided by the public interest in conserving the species. The occurrence of psittacine circovirus in some Spix’s macaws in Curaçá required immediate action by the relevant environmental agencies, both federal and state, in order to contain the spread of the virus among Spix’s macaws as well as other Brazilian psittacine species found in the region. Since little is known about its possible consequences, caution is warranted. 

Psittacine circovirus is a potentially dangerous pathogen for these birds. Although its presence has been investigated in various locations, it had never before been reported or confirmed in wild populations in Brazil until this event. Any contrary claim without scientific evidence is reckless and irresponsible. 

Virus detection in tests is made difficult by factors such as intermittent viral shedding in infected birds (an individual may carry the virus in its body without actively shedding it at the time of testing), the type of sample collected, the method and conditions of sample collection and storage, and the diagnostic technique used. 

The possibility of false negatives further complicates the situation, making it necessary to adopt additional precautions, such as conducting a series of individual tests using diverse samples before drawing conclusions about the health status of a specimen or population. For this reason, isolated negative results are not sufficient to indicate that the virus is absent. 

The situation is particularly challenging given the limited knowledge about the infection dynamics and pathogenesis of psittacine circovirus in Brazilian species. In addition, it is necessary to strike a balance between protecting the Spix’s macaw population and safeguarding native Brazilian psittacines, including other threatened species that may be affected, such as the Lear’s macaw (Anodorhynchus leari). 

Containment measures are under constant discussion and are reviewed as conditions evolve and new information becomes available. Renowned specialists and researchers are being consulted and have been supporting the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) in it’s decision-making. Although some protocols recommend euthanasia of positive animals, ICMBio is carefully evaluating all possible alternatives. 

Conservation translocation projects, such as the reintroduction of Spix’s macaws, face major challenges and require strategies that prevent even greater harm to the species or its environment. These strategies may include the recapture of individuals released in earlier stages, which does not imply the end of the project nor the extinction of the species. On the contrary, such measures are necessary for long-term protection and, when carried out responsibly, contribute to conservation. 

Local communities are being informed about this critical situation, as well as about the stability brought to the region by the existence of a coordinated conservation effort. 

At present, it is not possible to make any responsible statement regarding the origin of the circovirus found in Curaçá, as this requires proper and consistent studies. The immediate priority of the Brazilian State is to halt the spread of the virus. Nonetheless, identifying its origin is important in the broader conservation context, as it will help refine protocols and procedures required for managing endangered species populations and reduce the likelihood of similar situations occurring in the future. 

Comunicação ICMBio
comunicacao@icmbio.gov.br
(61) 2028-9280