The Near Threatened Tucumán parrot Amazona tucumana in Bolivia: Insights for a global assessment

Abstract

The Tucumán parrot Amazona tucumana is restricted to the southern Yungas mountains, from southeastern Bolivia to north-western Argentina, and has undergone intense capture for the pet trade. We provide updated information on the status of the Bolivian population of the species and past capture levels for the international pet trade. We surveyed 18 sites during the non-breeding season in 2006 and 2007 and recorded a total of 1,643 individuals. In the 1980s 5,400 Tucuma´n parrots were captured for the international pet trade before the species was listed on CITES Appendix I. Capture of the Tucumán parrot for local trade appears to continue but at a reduced scale. Available evidence from this study and from Argentina indicates a need to change the categorization of the species on the IUCN Red List from Near Threatened to Vulnerable.