Orange-bellied parrots: Crowdfunding last-ditch efforts to save critically endangered species

An emergency plan and crowdfunding campaign have been launched in a last-ditch attempt to save the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot from extinction. Key points: There are fewer 50 parrots left in the wild They migrate from SA and Victoria to breed in summer in Tasmania Threats include habitat loss, predation by cats, foxes and rats Crowdfunding will help ensure more successful wild breeding Without urgent action the species is likely to be extinct within two years, according to researchers. "We now need to act as swiftly as possible to make sure that more orange-bellied parrots are bred this year to compensate for this terrible return rate," he said. "We have been releasing, captive bred orange-bellied parrots for decades now, and ultimately that has failed to successively recover the species," he said. Eric Woehler from Birdlife Tasmania welcomed the announcement but said the State Government should not become reliant on other groups to save the state's endangered species.