Education

The education component of the Thick-billed parrot SSP is three fold. First, it aspires to build awareness of the species with the local community so they can appreciate the only living parrot native to the United States. Julia, the education department ambassador, is featured in the stage show every year and is one of many rotating afternoon talks where visitors get up and close and personal with a zoo animal. Julia also travels to classrooms around the region to raise awareness amongst our younger visitors.

Secondly, it works with institutions in Mexico, the last stand of habitat for the species, by spreading education materials, crafts, games, and general conservation ideas for those living in the Chihuahua region. The target audience is school children and teachers with hope that they can become involved in the conservation of this parrot. The pesos for Parrots program in Mexico has had great success, and we hope the Thick-billed Parrot will become a prominent flagship species for this and other programs.

Thirdly, we wish to have a set place where members of the public and keepers who work with the SSP can gain current information on what is happening with the program as a whole. That is the function of this website. Here you can find access to fact sheets, information on related species, conservation projects, husbandry manuals, enrichment ideas, signage suggestions, and current statistics.