GOOD NEWS! The beloved, and previously extinct, Blue Macaw bird is now reintroduced and thriving in the wild!
The Hyacinth Macaw—known to some as ‘Blu’ from the movie “Rio”—is a bird native to South America’s Brazil. It is known for its vibrant blue feathers and grey head. As of 2000, the last known Hyacinth Macaw in the wild disappeared. Due to illegal bird trade and deforestation, the species as a whole was officially declared extinct in 2019. While there were no birds left freely roaming in the rainforests, breeding programs still housed them. As breeders worked tirelessly to bring them back, the Hyacinth Macaw has stayed extinct as of late.
Thankfully, as of Aug. 27, 2025, the macaw was reintroduced to the Brazilian rainforests and declared no longer extinct! The lovable bird we have come to know in “Rio” is officially a bird we can see again in the wild.
