Discovery offers Ecuador Amazon parrot 11th hour hope

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25353301


In the wild, Ecuador Amazon parrots depend on two habitats - mangroves and dry forests

A South American parrot has been reclassified as a species in its own right, which could help save the bird from becoming extinct in the wild.

Until now, the Ecuador Amazon parrot was considered to be part of a group not seen as a conservation priority.

It is estimated that only 600 of the birds remain in the wild, which need two habitats - mangroves and dry forests - in order to survive.

The reclassification was based on years of work by a researcher at Chester Zoo.