Program: South Pacific Lorikeet Recovery
The small Vini lorikeets are native to the tropical Pacific islands. This group includes species whose distribution stretches from the Bismarck Archipelago to Fiji, Samoa and French Polynesia, reaching as far east as Henderson Island.
Introduced species represent a significant risk to the Vini lorikeets. Many of these species have disappeared from various islands, and two had already gone extinct by the time European explorers arrived in the Pacific. The main threat to these parrots is predation by feral ship rats. Rats introduced to small islands via cargo have decimated approximately 20 lorikeet populations in Polynesia. Rat control and developing local capacity are key to reversing the tide.
The World Parrot Trust has been instrumental in several key conservation actions for South Pacific lorikeets, including:
- Funding and conducting population surveys
To assess the status, distribution, and threats to species like the Ultramarine Lorikeet (Marquesas Islands) and Blue Lorikeet (Aitutaki). - Supporting local conservation partners
By helping build local capacity and raising awareness within island communities about the importance of lorikeet conservation. - Improving island biosecurity
Including funding for ship inspections, use of rat detector dogs, and prevention measures to keep invasive species like rats off lorikeet-inhabited islands. - Protecting active nest sites
Through infrastructure improvements and interventions to shield nests from predators and environmental threats. - Monitoring breeding success and population trends
By supporting long-term data collection on chick survival, nest success rates, and overall population health.
The actions being taken now for South Pacific Lorikeets will help protect them for the future.
Make a difference in the lives of parrots.
Find out how the World Parrot Trust is supporting South Pacific lorikeets.
