Please note that the ZSL has confirmed that due to the pandemic they have no access to their warehouse with stock. Supply is unlikely until the first quarter of 2021.
Parrots need help: this special section contains 32 papers from around the world showing how zoos, research institutions and field workers have responded to the challenge. Leading expert Nigel Collar (BirdLife International) sets the scene with an authoritative overview of the 90 (26%) species of parrots which are threatened with extinction, followed by Roger Wilkinson's (Chester Zoo) global survey of zoos' regional collection plans and captive-management programmes. Another 21 papers include information on lorikeet breeding and husbandry, the natural history, status, conservation, behaviour and captive management of various species of cockatoos, macaws, amazons, Kea, fig parrots and Pesquet's parrot. The final nine papers cover environmental enrichment, a survey of common viruses affecting parrots in captivity, conservation-education programmes in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, conservation priorities in the Andean region and a survey of the conservation work undertaken and supported by the Loro Parque Fundacion (Puerto de la Cruz). The section closes with a fascinating survey of longevity records of parrots.
Section 2 contains a medley of ten articles ranging from the husbandry and breeding of the Kerry spotted slug through to a preliminary study on environmental enrichment for Kinkajous. Other subjects include sea anemones, genetic analyses of the California condor, growth and mortality of Black stilt, breeding the Writhe-billed hornbill, review of nutritional deficiencies and toxicities in captive New World primates, hand-rearing Goeldi's monkey, a new ape facility, and hand-rearing and early reintroduction of a Sumatran orang-utan at Brookfield Zoo.
The guest essay by Sally Walker (India) puts forward the case for the continuing establishment of regional or national networks of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG/SSC/IUCN). Using the Indian National Network of CBSG as a proven example, she shows how networks can use the tools and processes already developed by CBSG to cut through administrative and political hierarchies, facilitate dissemination of information and clarify conservation problems and solutions.