Salmon-crested cockatoo
Scientific name: Cacatua moluccensis
IUCN-status: Endangered
Habitat
The Salmon-crested cockatoo is found in eastern Indonesia, particularly in lowland rainforests and in primary and secondary forests on the islands of the South Moluccas. Primary forests consist of primeval forests. Secondary forests are primeval forests that have grown back after being severely disrupted by deforestation, forest fires, insect infestations, and storm damage.
Diet
The Salmon-crested cockatoo feeds on seeds, nuts, fruit, and berries. The bird also eats green coconuts. It chews through the outer layer to reach the kernel of the green coconut.
At Mondo Verde, the Salmon-crested cockatoo’s diet consists of a pellet. This is a compressed chunk, specially developed for parrots. The pellet has a coarse structure and contains all the necessary nutrients. By feeding pellets, the bird receives the exact amount of vitamins it needs. The mixture also contains rose hips, small seeds, pumpkin seeds, and dried fruit. A bird eats approximately 10% of its body weight.
Natural behavior
The Salmon-crested cockatoo is a diurnal bird species. The Salmon-crested cockatoo needs full daylight to forage for seeds on the ground or fruit in trees. The Salmon-crested cockatoo is not an early bird and only leaves its roost when the morning sun fully illuminates it and radiates direct heat.
Threats
The Salmon-crested cockatoo has an IUCN status of Endangered and its population is still declining. The biggest threat to the Salmon-crested cockatoo is the cage bird market. Although international trade has fallen to zero, trappers remain active. As a result, this bird species is still sold in Indonesia and through illegal trade.
Purpose of this residence
The birds that live in these enclosures mostly come from private individuals. They have given these birds to Mondo Verde. Why? The birds were not ideal pets because they were too noisy, made too much mess, took up too much space, etc.
Keeping a Salmon-crested cockatoo as a private pet is often not in the best interests of the animal’s welfare. This species of bird usually lives alone in a cage in households. This is despite the fact that the species is known to be a very social bird. In the wild, the birds live in flocks or pairs, with social contact being central. For this reason, a household must devote a lot of time to the bird. If this does not happen, the bird can become mentally ill. In the wild, the birds play, wash, and forage together. Even with dedication, a household cannot replace these experiences.
In addition, Salmon-crested cockatoos can be shy. This means that the bird likes you, but not your brother or sister or the rest of the family, for example. If they don’t like anyone in the household, the bird will start to behave aggressively. Not only can the bird be shy, it can also live to a very old age. As a result, the birds usually outlive the household. How lonely will the bird feel when the household is no longer alive and the bird is shy?
By allowing Salmon-crested cockatoos to live together in pairs, the birds are given the opportunity to relearn and exhibit natural behavior. Social behavior is stimulated by seeking closeness to each other. This makes the pairs less dependent on humans.
Not only donated animals can stay in these enclosures, but also confiscated animals. These animals were confiscated for various reasons, such as illegal origin or compromised animal welfare.