Providing life-changing care and environment for special needs avian species in Minnesota.
These five ring-necked parrots were once held at the Mayagüez Zoo in Puerto Rico. At the sanctuary, even after time in captivity, they are still very much wild!
Their instincts remain intact. Their needs haven’t changed. Captivity doesn’t remove what they are. It only limits how those instincts can be expressed.
And that’s the distinction that matters.
Because parrots aren’t domesticated companions!
They are wild animals living in human care.
Understanding that helps us meet them where they are, not where we expect them to be. #MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
Parrots have lived alongside humans for centuries, but their biology, instincts, and needs have never changed. They are still wild animals. Understanding that is the first step to better care, better expectations, and better outcomes.
Go watch Part 1! We talked about what domestication really means and why parrots haven’t gone through that process.
Follow along and come back to learn more. #MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
This week, we’re breaking down: Domesticated vs. Wild Animals—Captivity, Suitability as Pets, and What This Means for Parrots. If you’ve ever wondered why parrots struggle in human environments, this is for you!
Follow along, and come back each day to learn more.
#MAARS #Parrots #Sanctuary #Cockatoos #Nonprofit
Selected References
* Athan, M., & Deter, D. (2015). The Parrot Who Owns Me.
* AVMA. (2020). Welfare Implications of Non-Domestic Species as Pets.
* Baratay, É., & Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002). Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West.
* Bradshaw, G. (2014). Carnivore Minds (comparative captivity impacts).
* Engebretson, M. (2006). The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals. Animal Welfare, 15, 263–276.
* Larson, G., & Fuller, D. (2014). The evolution of animal domestication. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
* Mason, G., & Rushen, J. (2006). Stereotypic Animal Behaviour.
* Meehan, C., Millam, J., & Mench, J. (2003). Foraging opportunity and parrot welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
* Price, E. O. (1984; 2002). Behavioral aspects of animal domestication.
* Trut, L., Oskina, I., & Kharlamova, A. (2009). Animal domestication and stress biology.
* van Zeeland, Y. et al. (2009). Feather damaging behaviour in parrots.
* Zeder, M. (2012). The domestication of animals. Journal of Anthropological Research.
