Echo parakeet

The echo parakeet, indigenous to the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Réunion, remains the sole surviving parrot species in the region. This green parrot has two recognized subspecies: the now-extinct Réunion parakeet and the currently thriving echo parakeet. It wasn't until a 2015 DNA study that scientists confirmed these two as subspecies of the same species.

Primarily inhabiting the forests of the Black River Gorges National Park in Mauritius, the echo parakeet is an arboreal bird that depends on native vegetation. Its diet consists mainly of fruits and leaves from native plants, and it nests in natural cavities found in old trees.

Unfortunately, the echo parakeet faced significant challenges due to hunting, deforestation, and habitat alterations. By the 1980s, it was considered the world's rarest parrot, with only a few individuals remaining. However, conservation efforts, including captive breeding programs initiated in the 1990s, have been crucial in preventing the species' extinction. As a result of these efforts, the population increased to 750 birds in the wild by 2019, leading to a downgrade in its conservation status to vulnerable.

Despite this progress, the echo parakeet still faces threats such as habitat destruction, competition for food and nesting sites, predation, and diseases like psittacine beak and feather disease. In response, conservationists provide supplemental food, install nest boxes, and actively manage the population.

Continued conservation management is vital to mitigate these threats and ensure the echo parakeet's survival. There are ongoing discussions about introducing the echo parakeet to other Mascarene Islands, which could aid in its protection and potentially restore ecological balance in the region.