The yellow-headed Amazon parrot (Amazona oratrix) is found in riparian and evergreen forests in Belize, mangrove swamps in Guatemala, and throughout coastal Mexico. Its wild population size has declined 90%, from 70,000 to 7,000, in the past two decades alone. Yellow-headed Amazon parrots are highly sought out as pets because of their ability to mimic sounds and voices. Most of the trade in these animals occurs within Belize. The Programme for Belize (PFB) has implemented a Yellow-Headed Parrot Recovery Programme, which includes extra protection of nesting sites during the breeding months of March to July and a public awareness program to reduce the demand for these parrots as pets. Funding from the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program will help support a part-time park ranger to work on nest protection and community awareness, and will support the costs of printing educational materials. Staff champion for this project, Melanie Sorensen, will also travel to Belize to participate in this project, as part of her involvement with the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program.
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