Centro de Recuperación de Loros
Barbara Bird Farm.
The Kerulos Center is happy to announce its new Aves Sagradas (Sacred Birds) Sanctuary in Costa Rica.
Countless caged and suffering parrots need rescue. There is an urgent need to restore their lives and land. This year, The Kerulos Center has been given the opportunity to do just this.
Mr. Curt Clemenson, an avid supporter of environmental protection and innovative education in Costa Rica for more than 20 years, has generously donated land so that we can build a sanctuary and healing center for rescued parrots and macaws.
Our vision is that all parrots live in dignity and freedom. Our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate parrots in captivity and transform attitudes about parrots from possession to respect, independence, and sovereignty.
Aves Sagradas Sanctuary is located in the beautiful forest of northwestern Costa Rica near Arenal Volcano National Park. The region is home to a diverse array of parrot species and other exquisite wildlife—all of whom are under dire threat. (see Parrot Status sidebar).
Through collaborative programs that integrate trans-species science, conservation, and animal protection, Aves Sagradas Sanctuary will help parrots and people in five main ways:
- Provide sanctuary and a foster parrot network
- Link community, conservation, reintroduction, and sanctuary
- Develop trans-species trauma recovery training
- Mobilize education and resources to improve parrot well-being
- Create collaborative programs to support conservation enforcement and policy
Kerulos faculty members Robin D. Bjork and Maike Heidemeyer, Kerulos executive director Gay Bradshaw, and communications director Monica Engebretson are leading this important program.
While our work centers around the sanctuary that provides homes and rehabilitates illegally kept and confiscated parrots, Aves Sagradas is working with other sanctuary and conservation organizations and individuals to integrate skills and resources that build long term resilience and effectiveness.
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Sanctuary is more than refuge. Sanctuaries are the seeds of cultural change where animal values, language, and custom can be integrated into human culture.
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Your Support Counts
Help us bring these individuals to sanctuary.
© 2012 Kerulos Center All rights reserved
"Science in service to animals"
Parrot Status
Hundreds of thousands of parrots remain hostage in their own land in cages no larger than their bodies. The numbers of household pets in Costa Rica exceeds that of the U.S., Australia, and other western counties.[1]
Over half of Costa Rican households will have kept a wild animal at some point. The majority are psittacids, commonly known as parrots.
A recent survey indicates that 150,000 is a conservative estimate for the present number of parrots in captivity in Costa Rica.
The fact that 70-90 % of birds who are captured die in the process, during transport, or shortly after being made captive, is but one indication of the profound suffering and population losses sustained.
Captive parrots fare poorly. The majority shows symptoms associated with psychological and physical trauma and many suffer abuse and profound neglect. In addition, capture and captivity, combined with habitat conversion to pineapple and other crops, is devastating to free living populations.
Sources
[1] Drews, C. (2001). Wild animals and other pets kept in Costa Rican households: Incidence, species and numbers. Society & Animals 9(2), 107-125.