Tiergarten Schönbrunn successfully breeds rare Red-spectacled Amazons

Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna has achieved a significant conservation milestone with the successful natural rearing of three Red-spectacled Amazon chicks. This marks the first time the parent birds have independently raised offspring of this rare species.

The breeding pair originated from 74 parrot eggs confiscated by Austrian customs at Vienna Airport in 2011 following a major illegal wildlife smuggling case. Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck noted that what began as a dramatic case of illegal trade has evolved into a major success for species protection through the expertise of the zoo's care team.

This achievement is of particular importance within Europe, as Red-spectacled Amazons are currently only held in one other European institution, the Prague Zoo. Schönbrunn is the only zoo in Europe to have successfully bred the species. In their native Jamaica, Red-spectacled Amazons have been classified as critically endangered since 2020, with wild populations estimated at a maximum of 15,000 birds due to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.