INTERVIU TO RAFAEL ZAMORA
PADRÓN
BIOLOGIST SPECIALIZED IN ZOOLOGY / LORO PARQUE FUNDATION
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BY
RAMSÉS BÁEZ
GONZALO BLANCO
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Gonzalo Blanco and Ramsés Báez, two of the founders of Loriidae (Spanish
fans association of Lories, fig-parrots and Loriculus), which
have focus their objetive in the reproduction of lories, have contacted
the biologist Rafael Zamora to interviu him, about this interesant group
within psittacine.
An extensive intervie that becomes an interesant article with usefull
details for lories fans.
BREEDING
In captive breeding, what are the biggest
diference you see between loris and the rest of psittacine?
The main diference is its maintenance regarding hygiene. Lories heces
are a good medium for bacteria and fungus. Therefore the cages design,
internal furniture placement and their management should be carefully
studied to not make its maintenance unworkable.
In a way lories can be cleaner than other species but this depends
very much on the breeder who attends them.
It must also be explain that lories requires much more time of
dedication than other seed-eating species. Its diets needs, in most
species, more processing time and quantity of replenishments. With the
smaller species, if the breeder wants to do it well, he will even have
to change the nectar four times a day.
Which is the loris species or species that LPF
feels greater predilection and why?
Loro Parque Foundation feels predilection for all its lories species.
Each species is a gem by itself, and keeping them breeding in stable
numbers requires an exquisite dedication that makes you value all with
the same appreciation. Those who visit the breeding station of Loro
Parque in La Vera quickly realizes this detail. There are lori species
which breeders dont pay attention, but seeing them in couples, beside
other similar species, warm their worth by some kind of particularity
that makes them unique compared to others. This is the moment when the
breeder specilizes and its able to concentrate in one specific group. Is
in that moment when we talk about the “crush”.
And you in particular?
My weakness in this group are the tiny whiskered lories
Oreopsittacus arfaki. The first time I saw them they seemed amazing
for its small size and unique features in the world of birds and loris
in themselves. But be lying if I said that Vini, the group of Phigys,
galgulus and the whole genus Charmosyna are my favorites
among the loris. I can't say only one.
J
Sorry.
What lorie species do you consider more
problematic to breed?
The most difficult ones are those that are poorly represented in
captivity. The ones that don´t adapt well to the diets we can give them.
Eos histrio, for example, with a marked tendency to obesity, it
depends on the environment that can be offered and is directly related
to diet.
The fig-parrots Psittaculirostris or Opopsittas, are equally special and
require further efforts to evolve in their maintenance.
Would´nt want to label them as problematic so easily. But it´s true that
is the type of bird from which many breeders can become deeply
disillusioned and turn the page to other species that give them more
satisfaction in the short term.
Why do you think so related and physically
similar species such as Eos bornea and Eos semilarvata or
cianogenia are ones easy to breed in captivity and the others so
complicated?
Each one has different biology, their habitats are different and
specific. These are the factors that make their adaptation over time to
our management through different generations.
We have also to keep in mind inbreeding factors. Many of these
species have come in very low numbers and starting on a few genetic
lines has developed what´s on today. Looking the ecology of these
species we can also see differences in specificity and specialization.
The Eos Bornea for example are in a condition of 'least concern', while
the Eos cyanogenia is considered now as 'threatened / vulnerable'
coming from a specific islands where their populations have always been
smaller compared to those of Eos Bornea, much more widespread and
abundant.
Although resemble in appearance, they are trophic specialists in
their habitats, which are generally not extensive, as they dont live in
continents and the transformation of the territory for the use of crops
or other human activities, as catches affects rapidly in the
growing of its populations.
Eos semilarvata is almost unknown in captivity outside their
origin area, where, in the other hand, no effort is made to reproduce
them. Not so long ago their weren´t even photos for the parrots
encyclopedias we know now. They are exotic beauties that still bear
little time in captivity. For which are also physiological adaptation
requirements.
Knowing that each species, and even couples
within the same species can have different preferences, for breeding
lories, what nest do you consider to have the best features?
Globally, "L" nests are best suited. But it is good to give them
generous offer to each couple. One "L" and another horizontal with some
tilt, will perfectly cover the requirements for egg laying of the
copies.
In a breeding center in Venezuela I saw several loris species
breeding in metal nests. Something that impressed me, but I welcomed
with enthusiasm seeing the good results given. They were horizontal and
with good ventilation.
I always say that the nest does not produce eggs or chicks.
Successful achievements in reproduction depend on how healthy we keep
the couples and the skills that the breeder has to make good decisions
at the right moment.
Is it advisable to keep the nests throughout
the year or its better to remove them in the rest period?
I Particularly think the ideal is to remove the nests outside of
breeding season. Or at least close the entrances. If you want or need,
you can make different refuges for species that looks for hollows in
winter. We must see the nests as an incentive for individuals and not as
a piece of furniture to life provision. In nature the couples don´t live
linked to a nest all year round. And in captivity we have to give time
and importance to enrichment. The change of environment and elements is
critical to the welfare of a breeding pair.
NUTRITION
Home nectars Vs. commercial Nectars, which
would you prefer and what advantages and disadvantages do you see for
each one?
To my birds at a particular level I always prefer homemade formulas.
It's the way we enjoying better aviculture. Especially if few couples
are
kept to dedicate them the necessary time. The stability of these
formulas is lower than comercial ones, but for this very reason they
have less unnecessary components. In addition to the obligation to
involve a closer and frequent handling.
Commercial formulas give independence to the breeder and increasingly
are being improved, with the advantage of achieving basic stability in
the diet, which sometimes in homemade formulas can not be achieved by
the lack of any component or inaccuracies in the calculation of the
formula.
I think the best is to combine bouth, adjusting the amounts offered.
If you get to a balance, under the graduation and the decision of the
breeder, the control of the results is achieved.
In lories the key is to achieve diets that they can quickly
metabolize. All that lories can not process will be accumulated
inappropriately in their bodies. If they do little exercise it´s even
worse. Lorises are tireless athletes who will be picking at different
sites. They are not like granivores that travel, eat, rest and engage in
other activities. Overall nectarivorous birds have a more pronounced
activity, as if they where continually hungry but really they don´t.
With a very active metabolism we must understand its biology in which
searching a small amount of food It's their natural way of life, and not
binge in font of a full plate in one place. Understanding this concept
we can achieved many successes with them.
LPF varies the lories diet depending if they
are in breeding or rest season?
Yes. It is also very important to do it for the health of
individuals.
How many different diets do you prepare to
lories? Do you make specific diets for the diferent genus or species?
We do a basic nectar diet to all and other specific nectar depending
on groups of species. It being understood that each couple needs their
particular attention. There are couples that work better with one types
of cut fruit than other. Breeders observation at this point is the key,
because although it is not about giving caprice, we have to ensure that
the animals are fed completely and well balanced.
It´s clear that the more couples we have , the more it complicates
to have an optimal maintenance.
Once the offspring are independent, it is
necessary to enriched their diet with an extra supply of protein till
they reach young adulthood or first molt, or they are fed the same diet
as adults?
It is important to maintain a moderate protein intake after
independence to end the form of the structures of the lories. But as a
complement. In the moulting they also need help in this regard and
maximum hygiene. But depends much on the conditions that they are able
to provide. It will depend on the weather, facilities and flight they
can do to exercise the copies, so that if the breeder has the youth in
large aviaries where they can fly and have sunbathing, they will need
less attention in this respect than a breeding center that have to keep
them in tight spaces where the exercise is lower.
You provide lories live food?
Yes, we give them mealworms 'Tenebrio mollitor' most
willingly accepted during the breeding season. Outside this period the
couple shows a palpable contempt for this food source, being on the
other side unnecessary.
Do you recommend adding vitamins and minerals
to the loris diet?
Definitely yes, but only when necessary. And it is important
to make good estimates because industrial nectars already include
vitamins and minerals. Loris physiology is, as you know, special. They
have a very active and fast metabolism. Calculations failures in
minerals or vitamins can have disastrous consequences that ends the
individuals life without much notice. So it is an issue that don't have
to be taken lightly. Many people supplement the diet like crazy thinking
in lories advantage. "Vitamins" sounds positive, but hypervitaminosis
means the opposite.
Do you consider appropriate to provide shoots
or sprouts to lories? What do you think are the most appropriate to
provide the lories diet?
Of course they are and they are not required in large amounts. It may
be a small daily contribution before and during the breeding season.
Rich in minerals, proteins, enzymes and antioxidants several legumes are
very interesting to enrich their diet. In the case of lories Chinese
Jewish seeds, also called mung bean, provide a useful contribution. And
my recommendation is to always use unmixed single germinated. I mean
seeds sprouted separately and offered on different days. The main reason
is to avoid contamination since the sprouts are especially sensitive to
the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. You have to handle this type of
food scrupulously and in really small amounts calculated for each
instance so that there are no remnants past 4 hours. Not for giving a
kilo of germinated you will achive best result than giving 3 grams. The
breeder has to combine this element as a useful supplement.
Do you think wise to use probiotics? If so, at
what moment do you think convenient to use them?
The best time is before the breeding period, in the rest period. Also
in convalescence stages. It is not something to be used indiscriminately
all the year round or each month.
There are many fig parrots breeders that manage
to have chicks, but they die in a few days, what do you think is the
failure?
The base failure is the diet, which is difficult to reach the
right one depending on the breeding centers they are. A
Caloric diet in a hot and humid weather does not work in the same way
as in a cooler and drier climate. The parameters have big variations and
the adaptation, better or worse, of the copies as well.
An important part of the success is in the management. The "fig
parrots" are particularly sensitive to manipulations of the nest and it
is best not to disturb them. Once the have had several clutches taken
forward the breeder can risk making the first manipulations to see how
they work.
Undoubtedly they are speccies for experienced breeders and that are,
preferably, concentrated in this group.
MANAGEMENT
What actions should be taken when a couple has
continuously unfertilized eggs?
.- Lories check by an expert veterinarian.
.- Analyze samples for possible infections.
.- Check stability of perch.
.- Check the health of the legs of the specimens. Look if
there is a lack of fingers or nails.
.- Observe copulations.
.- Observe age and vitamins contributions if necessary.
.- Change the location of the pair.
If the couple is not really compatible, does´nt sleep together on the
same perch, don´t have long periods of marriage, there are frequent
clashes or are never together near the nest, no choice but to attempt to
undo the union. First for a long period where they preferably can´t see
or hear each other.
For later reintroduction in a different cage. If this does not work,
the search for new specimens for new pairings will be necessary.
Do you think these situation also occurs in
nature or are own to captive breeding due to incorrect management?
In nature infertile eggs are more common than people might think.
Many females take several seasons to get raising a brood.
In captivity the factors that may affect are significantly multiply
In the wild it´s often seen lories in groups,
do you think it might be beneficial to create outside the breeding
season groups in captivity ?
It's definitely good for them. Group interaction gives much vigor and
development of natural behaviors needed to do better in the immediate
future.
The groups encourage a balanced diet of the specimens when they have
space. Like exercise.
In captivity it occurs that in certain species
there are born much more numbers of individuals of one gender, as male
excess in Charmosyna. Do you think there is any possibility to avoid
this trap?
We must study this in perspective, many times these deviations are
punctual and in certain years. Here in Europe, for example, in specific
years in which breeders told me that only males were born to them,
curiously in Loro Parque Foundation could happen that more females than
males were born. And it has happened to us with many other species in
which it is real that some deviations are experienced but finally
looking at the overall, proportions are balanced. It could be control.
There are many theories about the influence factors but should be
studied thoroughly.
In Europe there are breeders who try to play
goldiei Lori, Loriculus or some species more in colony. Is it possible to
form breeding colonies lories?
It is possible, though this is not customary. We've had some success
with Eos histrio, which are stimulated enough to be sharing colony and
territories.
We know of breeders who have done very well with Loriculus
colony but always going to depend on the sex ratio, the space available
and the options to move the copies. The design of a room is everything
and behavior of birds vary greatly depending on the environment.
With what we can tell, it is with problems if only two couples in a
small room with few options to avoid visual contact between individuals
at certain times.
The increase in couples and the possibility of avoiding common
innkeepers skills and feeding areas, greatly facilitate the chances of
success without conflict. Leaving not forget that there are conflicting
with those who struggle to fit in groups or with your partner, so the
specimens in all cases observation breeding colony becomes a requirement
that you control the different situations.
It recently came out a study of LPF, which said
to have better success with colonies of Eclectus and a couple of
white cockatoo in the same aviary, earning a higher rate of fertilized
eggs presumably by competition between species. Do you see feasible to
do something similar with loris? If so, what species would be most
suitable?
I have to say that I don´t recommend it because the loris can be very
territorial in these periods. The inter-species mixture can end with
injuries of an unthinkable proportions. And not always the most
dangerous are the largest. A couple of lorius can end up killing other
of palm cockatoos.
If the relationship inter-species is with groups of loris of similar
sizes and are the conditions are the corrects, you can try with great
vigilance.
They are compatible genus:
* .- Vini, Glossopsitta, Phygis, Loriculus.
* .- Trichoglossus between them, but with the high risk of
hybridizations.
* .- Chalcopsitta but at high risk of attack.
* .- Group Lorius but be very attentive to the territoriality in
mating season.
I must insist that the amount of space, nests, feeding bowls and
watering as well as the number and location of the perch, will play a
key role in maintaining these groups successfully.
With Lories we find couples who don´t feed or
even attacking their chicks. What do you think can cause this behavior?
What can be done to change this situation?
Immaturity and lack of experience in most cases creates
these problems. It also occurs because the absence of
compatibility between partners. Males that dont feed their
females and / or force them to remain in the nest.
Not socialized animals in their youth can also be an impediment to
developing the behaviors of the species.
Attacks on chicks are also multifactorial. Dietary deficiencies, very
high hormone levels due to the location of the cage relative to
predators or other animals that can create stress to the couple,
parasite problems or nocturnal intruders like mice, etc ... can lead to
these harmful attitudes.
The breeder must pay attention and correct these influences as they
are located. It is a detective work based on the information available.
CONSERVATION
What is the importance of conservation of the
loris in captivity?
The main goal should be to reproduce them as many as possible.
Although there is the disadvantage that they are birds that have become
unique because not all breeders can keep them. Nor do they have the same
output as other species and destinations for copies are for certain
breeders.
The importance of maintaining a healthy cabin in captivity is high
because you never know which of these sensitive species may disappear
from their habitat. And those in the breeding centers, yet far from
being liberated their offspring in their original habitats, can become
the key to better understand the biology and be able to help in the
habitat where they can be threatened.
What is the reason for the worldwide reduction
of some lories species bred in captivity and what can be done to
minimize this problem?
As I mentioned in another answer the question is always related to
the few fans and breeders that can be devoted to maintenance.
Not being birds whose management is affordable for any fan, its
breeding is limited as its expansion.
Fix is so complicated as to make us humans pay more attention to an
extinct bird left few in captivity against a charismatic mammal that fit
many more opportunities for conservation. The latter has everything to
gain.
Do you think the breeding of parrots and other
species, is bound to disappear with time due to the inevitable
inbreeding?
No, not at all. In my experience the captive breeding of species is
variable. There are years when a species is well represented in breeding
centers and paradoxically if this situation continues for a couple of
seasons, the demand gets lower and soon again becomes difficult to find.
Only extremely rare and with bad breeding results, that some zoos have,
may disappear.
Inbreeding is a basis to consider but doesn´t limited reproduction of
a species in captivity to 100%. Many bird species well established in
both professional breeding centers as novice fans come from a few
specimens reproduced several generations before. The coincidence of
genes can give in certain cases the expression of features normally
hidden. Appearing new colors, different feathers sizes and phenotypic
changes in general. And even at certain times, rates of infertility
among couples or expression of lethal factors causing embryonic death.
But by dint of select and testing different specimens, breeders manage
to overcome this bottleneck and increase the populations being handled.
What I am triying to describe has happened before with many species.
Finally we select the ones that breeds best , almost without knowing it,
thanks to that quality.
How many couples of one specie do you consider
that should remain between European breeders to avoid inbreeding in
the medium and long term?
As many as they can. Difficult question and unconclude answer.
Ideally, each breeder should count with at least three pairs of
different blood lines. And perhaps the most important, is to have the
origins well identified and localized. Working the inbreeding with
knowledge can become quite complicated and hard when making decisions.
Although it is also true that birds are very grateful in this regard and
the inclusion of new genes in a related group is noted with more speed
than expected.
Unfortunately it has been disappearing lories
species in Europe and others are very rare and, in the very near
future, their disappearance is inevitable. Which species you consider
are destined to disappear?
Many like Charmosyna multistriata, seem to have
disappeared from European breeding centers to suddenly emerge somewhere
in Europe in the house of a retired amateur who didn´t tell much to the
rest of his successes.
Others, like Chalcopsitta atra insignis, or Oreopsittacus
arfaki , are already scarce. The latter have limited demand when
placing surplus.
Does anyone see an 'arfaki' as a pet in a pet shop? The answer is no.
So delicate, so laborious maintenance and because guarantees that a
nobel breeder will go well with them are very low. Therefore even the
specialized trade would cost you for standing up to prompt complaints
with very low profit margins.
We have recently seen in the latest issue of
the Journal of Loro Parque Foundation you collaborate on a project to
help the insitu Lathamus discolor. What are the first steps that should be
taken to stop the drasticall reduction of their numbers in the wild and
avoid being included in Appendix A of CITES?
The keys are in the field research which should produce concrete
evidence to suggest the solutions to take. On the other hand local human
populations must also know the problems of the birds in their
environment and know the importance of respecting and helping them.
There are several processes to reach a good end but they require time
and funding.
Lathamus discolor is a parrot that makes migrations with radical changes
in habitats. Their journeys have been succeeding for years and surely
guided by an instinct sculpted based on the learning and evolution of
individuals. This feature makes them very special in the world of
parrots and therefore are probably more sensitive to changes and
fracturing of the environments in which they move. How to find food in
other parrot species allows them to dominate a particular ecosystem
where memory plays an important role. If a psittacine species changes to
a distant ecosystem where the expected elements are missing, the
negative impact on the success of the species, should be significant and
immediate. Provided that an animal that lacks food in a particular place
of its familiar surroundings has always nearby options to locate another
food source, but to one that has moved many kilometers it complicated a
lot, given the energy requirements involved.
Other factors also add to the disadvantages fighting against the
species and for this we must determine in what circumstances they face
mammalian species that prey on their eggs in the breeding areas.
As always an arduous task of scientific research to experts, who
Loro Parque Foundation support.
Could this specie be keept in an aviary with
several couples together? Would this be the best method to place them,
or its better to have them on independent aviarys or cages?
Yes, they do well in groups and are very social. Anyway be must
comply with the premises of a good facility for a species of swift
flight that always competes for the high positions of the aviarys.
To breed it´s not necessary, since they do very well in pairs on
individual cages which can have 3 meter long. In side by side cages
where the birds of the same specie can see each other can be managed
the breeding in apreciable numbers.
Do you consider feasible the possibility of
breeding lories in captivity for use in reintroduction programs in
nature?
For its viability no problem. It can be done and lories are a group
of species that can be assessed as quite suitable for such processes.
Yet today, in most cases the reintroduction is not the solution to
almost any species that are affected in the wild. First it should be
work to replace the lost habitats and and prior to that, investigation
must give the reasons that lead to the disappearance of flora and fauna
that live there.
Rafael, thank you so much for everything. Last
question. What would you recommend to the breeders who are now immersed
in the world of loris?
Not to leave or desist from these species for difficult it may seem
to them sometimes. If they decided on the lories it is because they have
skills, talent and interest in them and must be convinced that
eventually the goals that seemed distant thanks to the perseverance are
achieved. Sometimes surpassing all expectations.
We especially invite you to become Loro Parque Foundation members and
get involved in the protection of nature in an effective way and join in
our research and exchange of information on each species both in the
wild and in captivity. This is the way to grow together enjoying and
analyzing every detail of our conversations among breeders, where the
experiences of each may be the success of the lories that are under our
responsibility.
Loriidae also want to encourage all readers of this interview to
become members of Loro Parque Foundation, not only because you are
entitled to enter as many times as you want to Loro Parque, visit the
breeding center of the Loro Parque Foundation and receive the magazine
Loro Parque "Cyanopsitta" but because 100% of your money will go to the
conservation of nature through the many conservation projects of Loro
Parque Foundation.
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