Rare and Endangered Loriinae Species

The risk categories described below are intended partly to prioritize conservation efforts so those species in need of most urget assistance will receive attention first.

In the book, Bird to Watch 2, Collar et al. (1994) estimate risk of extinction to different species in several standardized risk categories. The categories they defined are; Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. Those species that are Extinct in the Wild are known only to survive in captivity or as a population located outside of their historical range. Critically Endangered birds face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future, while Endangered species face a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Those species classified as Vulnerable face a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium term. Various criteria, such as population size, vulnerability and the level of threat are used to assign species to these different risk categories. Other risk categories are used by Collar et al. (1994), but these have not been applied to any of the parrots.

The categories used in Collar et al. (1994) were slightly modified but have been adopted since 1996 at the global level by almost all conservation agencies and by the IUCN -- the World Conservation Trust.

There are several species of lories that are endangered, according to BirdLife's publication, Birds to Watch 2 (1994). These species include;

• Red and Blue Lory (Eos histrio): illegal exploitation by the bird trade in 1992-1993. No more than 2,000 birds remain.
  
• Kuhl's (Ruffed) Lory (Vini kuhlii): primarily due to severe habitat fragmentation and predation by introduced rats. Approximately 2,000 individuals remain, scattered across several islands.
  
• Ultramarine Lory (Vini ultramarina): severe population fragmentation and predation by introduced rats. Approximately 1,500 birds remain scattered across several islands.
  
• New Caledonian Lory (Charmosyna diadema): very small population, probably less than 50 individuals. Last reliable sightings in 1976.

All lory species, like most parrot species, are listed as "Appendix II" by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (or CITES). CITES has three appendices which impose varying restrictions upon the animals present on that appendix. Briefly, they are...

Appendix I: Species listed here are recognized as being endangered and are placed on Appendix I by the entire CITES convention. Thus, removal of any individuals of these species from the wild is considered to be disastrous for the overall survival of that species. As a result, NO traffic is allowed for Appendix I species, not even by zoos and other accredited organizations/agencies. Additionally, any individuals of these Appendix-I species that are offered for sale must be proven to be the offspring of captive breeding stock. These animals must fulfill these three requirements; (a) the breeding stock was legally obtained, and (b) was acquired before that species was listed as "Appendix I", and (c) has been bred in captivity beyond the second generation.

Loriinae species that appear on Appendix I;