Wildlife Conservation and Protection

Key Ideas

• The red siskin has long been sought out by illegal bird traders and breeders due to its unique red-and-black plumage and cheerful song.

• The endangered species had almost disappeared from tropical South America until 2000, when a population was recorded in the South Rupununi region of Guyana.

• Local Indigenous communities have rallied behind the small bird, successfully maintaining population levels and encouraging a broader conservation movement that focuses on education and deterring poaching.