Every Animal That Was Declared Extinct In 2018 (And Those Likely To Go In 2019)
4. Spix's Macaw - Extinct
Back in 2011, the world was delighted with the film Rio about a blue parrot who goes on an adventure. The bird in that film was based on the Spix's macaw, a beautiful blue parrot, which was sadly added to the list of extinct species in 2018.
The Spix's macaw was first described back in 1638 and remained one of Brazil's favorite natural treasures bearing the name "Little blue macaw" due to its relatively small size (300 grams).
Though small in size, the Spix's macaw featured a beautiful plumage consisting of shades of blue from light to very dark. Because the birds had a limited range requiring specific trees for nesting, it was difficult to maintain in captivity, but there is some hope for the species.
The IUCN listed the Spix's macaw as extinct in the wild with the last sighting occuring in 2016 (And the one before that being in 2000), but there are some live individuals in captivity. An active breeding program being conducted by the Brazilian government's Department of Natural Resources (ICMBio) is working to breed their captive birds and one day reintroduce them to the wild.
The Spix's Macaw may once again grace the skies of Brazil if everything goes according to plan, but for now, these remain extinct in the wild and no longer roam their natural habitat.