The island of Kauai and a park in
Seville, Spain are facing similar concerns over one invasive bird – the
Rose-ringed Parakeet.
What do Kauai, Hawai’i and
Seville, Spain have in common? Answer: the invasive Rose-ringed Parakeet.
The brightly colored bird is
native in parts of Asia and Africa but the bright coloration has also led this
species into the pet trade industry. As an unfortunate by-product of
their popularity as pets, the birds have been accidentally and intentionally
released into non-native habitats around the world. The Kauai population was
first established in the 1960s and grew to 200 individuals by the 1990s. Today
experts estimate over 5,000 parakeets live on Kauai. Seville has a similar
story of introduction that took place in the 1990s when 10 individuals were
released after being confiscated from a pet shop. Now the populations
are out of control and conservationists are concerned.
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