Chinese Researchers Visit Utinga State Park and Learn About the Macaw Reintroduction Project
The group walked interpretive trails, visited the acclimatization aviaries of the birds, and participated in a discussion about the challenges of conserving endangered species in urban areas.
A delegation of Chinese doctors in Ecology, accompanied by guides from the Institute of Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification (Imaflora), visited Utinga Camillo Vianna State Park in Belém this Friday (11). The group got an up-close look at the Macaw Reintroduction and Monitoring Project, a species that symbolizes the Amazonian fauna, which has received special attention from the Government of Pará through the Institute of Forest Development and Biodiversity (Ideflor-Bio).
The visit was led by technicians from the Biodiversity Management Directorate (DGBio), the Belém Administrative Region Management (GRB), and the Lymington Foundation, which works in partnership with Ideflor-Bio in managing the macaws. The group walked interpretive trails, visited the acclimatization aviaries of the birds, and participated in a discussion about the challenges of conserving endangered species in urban areas.
According to Ideflor-Bio's Biodiversity Manager, Mônica Furtado, the exchange represents an important recognition of the work being done at Utinga State Park. “Welcoming international specialists reinforces the scientific and environmental relevance of our project. The macaws have great symbolic and ecological value, and their controlled reintroduction is a step forward in the effort to restore the Amazonian fauna,” she stated.
Project - Launched eight years ago, the project aims to restore viable populations of macaws (Guaruba guarouba) in the wild, monitoring the behavior, adaptation, and reproduction of the birds in a protected environment. Activities are carried out in accordance with technical standards, sanitary protocols, and animal welfare criteria, and also include environmental education actions with visitors and local residents.
The visit also generated positive impressions from the guests. “We were impressed by the integration of conservation, education, and science. Seeing the macaws flying in their natural habitat is a unique experience. The model adopted here can inspire other similar projects in tropical areas around the world,” highlighted one of the Chinese researchers.
The exchange of experiences strengthens connections between researchers and environmental managers from different continents and expands the possibilities for technical cooperation for biodiversity conservation. Utinga State Park is a Fully Protected Conservation Unit managed by Ideflor-Bio, located in one of the most populous regions of the capital of Pará, and plays a strategic role in preserving the fauna and flora of the metropolitan region of Belém.
