Blue and Gold Macaws Come Home
Nariva, a unique and important wetland on the east coast of Trinidad, until the early 1920’s, was home to hundreds of beautiful blue and gold macaws (Ara arauna).These birds were extirpated in the early 1960’s due to relentless harvesting for the illegal pet trade together with the destruction of their habitat, especially the great stands of Moriche palms (mauritia setigera) and Royal palms (Roystonea oleracea). The blue and gold macaws bred at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust have come back to their original home with the assistance of the Wildlife section, Forestry Division, Ministry of Housing & the Environment.
If left alone to survive and breed, these magnificent birds will once again delight and astound visitors, local and foreign alike, as they once did in great flocks. Success for this re-introduction however also depends on the rehabilitation and preservation of this wetland.
Wetland reserves have considerable potential for generating income from nature-based tourism and recreation, but we must maintain a viable carrying capacity and whilst developing ensures the protection of the very resources that we need. Spectacular scenery, relative ease of access and close views of a great variety of flora and fauna, are important factors. Monitored and used wisely, sensitive, community driven, nature-based tourism makes money, protects the environment and can contribute significantly to local and national incomes.
Nariva is Trinidad’s largest freshwater herbaceous swamp, over 6000 hectares with 1550 hectares of highland forest. In the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the heart of the Nariva Swamp, there is an extremely rich and varied fauna; 57 species of mammals; 171 species of birds; 8 species of edible fish; 12 crustacean species; 7 amphibians and 37 species of reptiles, including the Anaconda, largest snake in the world, capable of reaching a length of 30 feet. Troops of Red Howlers and Capuchin monkeys, 3 species of opossums, 2 species of anteaters, the tree porcupine, wild ducks, different species of other wetland birds and many species of migratory birds as well as the highly endangered Manatee, roam the swamp’s diverse habitats.
In some areas, fishing and legal, small-scale, high yield farming communities, derive their livelihoods from this valuable wetland.