Flying Home

First Flock of Scarlet Macaw Reaches Palenque

A group of 27 of scarlet macaw (Ara macao) born in Xcaret form part of an ambitious release program in the Chiapas jungle, where this species is almost extinct.

Kin and Pixán

My faithful companion Pixán, our companions and I are adjusting to our new home.

Pixán and I are part of the 27 copies of scarlet macaws born in Xcaret that belong to an ambitious program of reintegration into our habitat in the jungle of Chiapas. This is the only place in Mexico where the scarlet macaw lives in its habitat.

Last Friday we made the road trip from Xcaret Park to our new home.

Flying Home

The return to the jungle of Chiapas marks the pinnacle of efforts of more than 18 years of reproduction and growth in order to contribute to the preservation of this species and reverse the deterioration of its population.

Since their arrival in Palenque, the 27 macaws have a process of adaptation to the environment and activities to recognize their food in the wild, identify their natural predators, discover shelter between trees, and finally learn to fly freely.

The scarlet macaws delivered to Palenque are 24 months old, healthy specimens born in the Xcaret breeding program. The delivery of the macaws was led by biologist Rodolfo Raigoza Figueras, Wildlife Manager at Xcaret Park and Gabriela Lara, Coordination of Terrestrial Wildlife at Xcaret.

The macaws were received in Palenque by Dr. Alejandro Estrada, researcher at the Institute of Biology at UNAM, and by the Release Program Coordinator in Chiapas María de Lourdes Silva García, General Director at Aluxes EcoPark. Juan Cornejo, Curatorial Science Fellow (Ornithology) at the Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, served as advisor to the project of the re-insertion of scarlet macaws in the jungle of Chiapas.

The first group precedes two more to arrive in Chiapas during 2013 to complete a group of 60 red macaws that will take as their habitat 50 hectares of park and almost 800 thousand hectares that comprise the National Park of Palenque, located 2 miles from the first.

The release program will be accompanied by an effort to raise awareness among the local population to ensure the viability and protection of these natural areas.

An Endangered Species

Currently, the scarlet macaw, or Ara macao cyanoptera is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, 2007), and listed as Endangered Species in the Official Mexican Norm-059 (Official Journal of the Federation, 2010).

This bird is endangered in Mexico not only for the destruction of their habitat, but because of the illegal trade of the macaw. It is estimated that in the wild, its population is no more than 400 macaws. The scarlet macaw is also found in the rainforests of Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and other nations. In Mexico, the largest number of scarlet macaws in the country is located in Xcaret Park.

The Guiness Record for Births

With about 1,000 copies, Xcaret is home to the densest population of macaws in Mexico: 100 couples of reproductive age.

In 2009, the reproduction program reached 113 births, of which 105 are still living. Due to these births, Xcaret was creditor to the Guinness World Record in 2011 for the highest number of macaws bred in one year.

This year, the program closed with 175 macaw births.

Have you visited the aviary in Xcaret?
Have your photo taken with the macaws?

Flying Home | The Journey of Kin and Pixan

Did you know that the red macaws has only one life partner?
When they choose their partner, they never part.

The cold of the morning when we left Xcaret Park, our home, accompanied us on this journey back to our habitat in Chiapas.

Pixan, my faithful companion, and I form part of the 27 red macaws born in Xcaret as part of a succesful reproduction program that will return to our natural habitat in the Chiapas jungle. My name is Kin, which means sun in Maya. Pixan means soul. We met at Xcaret Park. Our contact with the humans who have cared for us has been minimal so we will be able to return to our habitat and someday be able to survive without their help.

For the ancient Maya, the macaw was a solar bird, we represent the fire of the sun, we communicate the sacredness of the star, bringing its messages, receiving their offerings and announced its departure.

We left at 2 am towards the Eco Park Aluxes in Palenque accompanied by a group of 11 people who are taking care of our return home. I cannot convey the excitement and a little fear we feel about this big step-or flight-we are about to take.

Follow our journey from Twitter via @XcaretPark and the hashtag #FlyingHome

Will you accompany us on this voyage?

Getting Close to Marine Life in Xel-Ha

Did you know that 14.258 organisms of different species on average live in the inlet at Xel-Ha?

Xel-Ha, the largest natural aquarium in the world, presents a great natural laboratory for its mixture of fresh and salt water, which is very attractive to scientists and biology students.

For this reason, scientists from Mexico and France chose this beautiful place as the perfect setting for research in highlighting the habitat, reproduction, and evolution of the queen conch. With this in mind, on May 26th, biologists, staff and guests gathered for the 1st Academy-Company Work Day, where staff, scientists and university students took part in 6 playful workshops that enabled participants to recreate the work of researchers where they got to observe, quantify, verify and present their results of each activity.

The workshop topics were:

• The Inlet
• Microscopic World
• Queen Conch
• The Mangrove
• The Fish
• Water quality and environmental education

Accompanied by a specialist in each area, participants were able to verify the methods used by marine biologists and were able to dive, swim, and explore the rainforest and micro organisms collected under a microscope.

The purpose of this meeting was to raise awareness and teach people of all ages, the work of a biologist and integrate science and technology directly into society.

At the end of the day, Dr. Dalila Aldana, a representative of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico and her group of scientists thanked everyone for the support and respect for the work they do. Dr. Aldana and her group of scientists participate in research and conservation of species in Xel-Ha Park and throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

What suggestions can you think to take care of our oceans and their species?
Share 5 species that inhabit the oceans that you like.

Learn and Raise Awareness | June 5: World Environment Day

“Take care of the Earth and she will look after you.” – Author Unknown

Since 1973, June 5, the world opens its consciousness to mark the celebration of World Environment Day and look back at the damage we have done and what we do to start taking care of the Earth.

In celebration of this date, Experiencias Xcaret is proud to present the results of the socially responsible actions from January to December 2011. We are a 100% Mexican company dedicated to sustainable tourism, with over 25 years in the market.

Our goal is to raise awareness about the environment and communities that have given us the beautiful scenery to offer our visitors magical moments.

The Environment in Numbers

The Environment in Xel-Há

• 152.506 samples of free of biodegradable sunblock exchanged with visitors
• 354.238 pesos invested in biodegradable sunblock program
• 88,000 plants reforested
• 104,000 plants produced in nurseries
• 0.7 tons of CO2 per visitor per year. The world average for similar companies is 1 ton
• 557.000 liters of water treated per day
• 71% of our waste is recovered – the world average is 50% – of which we accumulate a year:
  • 36 tons of glass
  • 79 tons of paper and carboard
  • 44 tons of plastic
  • 17 tons of metal

Philanthropy

With our philanthropic arm, the civil association, Flora Fauna y Cultura de Mexico AC, we have conservation programs, environmental education and awareness:

• 858.000 sea turtles released only in 2011
• 5,539,355 turtles released from 1996 to 2011
• 1,250 participants sensitized to environmental education with the “Hall of Nature”
• 56.76 hectares reforested and rehabilitated
• More than 100,000 trees grown for reforestation state campaigns in 2011
• 61 public schools reforested, 1.747 and 570 trees planted ornamental plants, 44.950 m2 of coverage, 13.073 students participating from 2009 to 2011

In addition, Xel-Há manages several programs of social responsibility and environmental protection and conservation program of queen conch, recycling waste and water programs.

The Natural Wonder in Numbers

The Natural Wonder in Numbers | What Best Defines Us

• 14.258 organisms of different species on average in the population of the creek
• 10 years implementing the Queen Conch conservation program in conjunction with CINVESTAV
• 9.690 Marked queen conch from 2001 to 2011
• 1st place in the nationally recognized for its waste recycling program, recognition granted by SEMARNAT and COPARMEX in 2008
• 80% recovery of solid waste. The world average is 50%.
• 0.7 tons of CO2 generated per visitor per year.

Did you know that Xel-Há is the first park in the world to be certified by EarthCheck Sustainable Tourism?

This has been achieved thanks to the awareness and responsibility placed in each of our visitors. So do not forget when you visit, bring your biodegradable sunscreen (or trade it at the park), say no to straws, throw garbage in containers, and take care of wildlife around you.

To learn more about our social responsibility activities, download the complete report.