How the Houston Zoo is helping Caribbean parrots survive a volcano – Chron

The La Soufrire volcano on St. Vincent started erupting April 9, blanketing the island in ash and soot. Eruptions continued to plague the island nation for some time, forcing thousands out of their homes, according to Town & Country's Leena Kim.

HEADS UP: Another closure is coming to Houston's most godforsaken highway

The threat from the volcano further endangered one of the island's native birds, the St. Vincent Parrot, which has a population of as little as 500, according to the zoo. The eruption came on the heels of the bird's mating season, with countless young chicks expected to have been hatched right as the eruptions began.

Back in the 1970s, zoo staff successfully bred the St. Vincent Parrot in captivity to help boost its population and has been active in helping the species ever since.

So naturally, when the volcano erupted months ago, zoo staff reached out to the St. Vincent Forestry Department to give support in any way they could. Workers on the island had already placed special feeders around the island to help the birds but fear great numbers might be lost.

"We had to act fast to find out how we could help," senior director of wildlife conservation Renee Bumpus said in a blog post. "It was difficult to see how many people were evacuating."

Bumpus had worked with members of the St. Vincent Forestry Department in the past and called to offer help. In doing so, the zoo offered guidance on best practices for protecting the birds and virtual seminars for forestry personnel.

They've spotted a few chicks already and hope to find more, according to the zoo.

Their conservation efforts are funded each time someone visits the zoo. Maybe it's time for a family trip to help protect the St. Vincent Parrot.

What was your favorite experience at the Houston Zoo? Let me know on Twitter: @jayrjordan

Read more here:

How the Houston Zoo is helping Caribbean parrots survive a volcano - Chron