Red-billed curassow: flagship for the Atlantic Forest

The red-billed curassow inhabits only a handful of sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This area is a highly threatened habitat and is also home to the Alagoas curassow, last seen in 1989. The red-billed curassow is an excellent species to act as an ambassador for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest, mainly because of its ecological requirements and the great interest that exists in the species.  However, the species is very poorly known and its Endangered conservation status is largely based on the declining extent of suitable habitat in the Atlantic Forest.  This area of forest has been highly fragmented, resulting in isolated pockets of curassow populations.

WPA, along with the government conservation agency IBAMA and a host of other Brazilian organisations, BirdLife International and Chester Zoo, has produced a recovery Action Plan for the conservation of the red-billed curassow.  The overall goal of the plan is to prevent the extinction of this glorious bird and to increase its numbers through management of its populations and habitat. Several policies have been identified to reduce human impact on the Atlantic Forest, which need constant promotion.  New protected areas need to be created, whereas current areas and private reserves require improved management.  Implementing these procedures and working with local communities will hopefully stop and where possible reverse the fragmentation and deterioration of the species’ habitat. Wild populations require further study to increase ecological knowledge on the species and the management of captive populations enhanced.  Reintroduction projects are also required, releasing birds into identified suitable sites which have long-term effective protection.

WPA is working with BirdLife International, Chester Zoo, SAVE Brasil and local partners in the region to implement this red-billed curassow action plan.