Inyoni Enesizungu Kunazo Zonke Emhlabeni

NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! EBRAZIL

UMA ucabanga ukuthi isikhova esimibalabala nokhozi kusengozini yokuqothulwa, awukayizwa indaba ye-Spix’s macaw. Lenyoni yaseBrazil inikeza incazelo entsha ngokuphelele emqondweni wamazwi athi “izilwane ezisengozini yokuqothulwa.” Nokho, ukuze sikunike imininingwane egcwele ngalenyoni enesizungu kunazo zonke emhlabeni, sizoqala ekhulwini le-17 leminyaka.

Emuva ngaleso sikhathi, uGeorge Marc Grav, isifiki esingumDashi esasihlala eBrazil, wabhala okokuqala ngqá ngokuba khona kwalenyoni nencazelo yesimo sayo. Ngokushesha, abantu bendawo bayibiza ngokuthi i-ararinha azul, noma i-macaw encane eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka—igama eliqondile kodwa elifanelekayo. Lenyoni igqoke okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka nokuncane okumpunga. Njengoba inobude obungamasentimitha angu-55, sekuhlangene nesisila sayo esinobude obungamasentimitha angu-35, ibuye ibe encane kunawo wonke ama-macaw aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka aseBrazil.

“Kamuva, ngo-1819, ososayensi bavela negama elingokomthetho lalenyoni elithi: Cyanopsitta spixii,” kulandisa isazi sesayensi yezinto eziphilayo uCarlos Yamashita, isazi sopholi esiphambili saseBrazil. Igama elithi Cyano lisho “okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka” futhi elithi psitta limelele “upholi.” Kuthiwani ngelithi spixii? Isazi sesayensi yezinto eziphilayo sathi, leso senezelo sibonisa ukuqashelwa kwesazi semvelo esingumJalimane uJohann Baptist Spix. Yisona esokuqala esafunda ngalezi zinyoni zisendaweni yazo engokwemvelo, emihosheni ekakwe imithi enyakatho-mpumalanga yeBrazil.

Ukuqala Kokwehla Kwesibalo

Yiqiniso, imihlambi yama-Spix’s macaw ayikaze ibe mikhulu kakhulu. Ngisho nangezinsuku zikaSpix, inani lalawo abalwa lalingu-180 kuphela, kodwa kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, isimo sawo siye saya siba sibi kakhulu. Izifiki zabhubhisa ingxenye enkulu yamahlathi okwakuhlala kuwo lezi zinyoni kangangokuthi maphakathi nawo-1970, kwase kusele ama-macaw angaphansi kuka-60. Nokho, nakuba isimo sasisibi kanjalo, ukwehla kwesibalo kwakumane kusaqala nje.

Lokho izifiki ezingakwazanga ukukufeza emakhulwini amathathu eminyaka, abacuphi bezinyoni bakwazi ukukwenza ngeminyaka embalwa—baqothula cishe lonke inani elalikhona lama-Spix’s macaw. Ngo-1984, ezinyonini ezingu-60 kwase kusele ezine kuphela endle, kodwa ngaleso sikhathi izazi zokukhuliswa kwezinyoni zase zizimisele ukukhokha “inani eliphakeme kakhulu ngenyoni yokugcina yalolo hlobo”—elifinyelela ku-R181 500 ngeyodwa. Akumangalisi ukuthi ngo-May 1989, umagazini i-Animal Kingdom wamemezela ukuthi sekuphele unyaka abacwaningi begcine ukubona lezi zinyoni zizindizela ngokukhululekile. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, kwabikwa ukuthi abacuphi base bezibambe zonke lezi zinyoni ezazisasele. I-Animal Kingdom izwakalisa ukudabuka yathi i-Spix’s macaw ‘yayisiqothulwe ngokuphelele.’

Isimangaliso Nethemba

Nokho, lapho izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo sezithanda ukukwamukela ukuthi i-Spix’s macaw yayisiqothuliwe, abantu abahlala eduze nendawo okuhlala kuyo lezi zinyoni bathi babone i-ararinha azul. Kwalandela imibiko eyengeziwe yokuthi iboniwe. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi kusenenyoni esasele? Ukuze baqiniseke ngalokho, ngo-1990 abacwaningi abahlanu bapakisha izinto zabo zokukanisa, izibonakude, nezincwadi zokubhala amaphuzu futhi baqonda kuleyo ndawo ye-Spix’s macaw.

Ngemva kokuba abacwaningi befunisise yonke indawo izinyanga ezimbili bengaphumeleli, babona umhlambi wama-papagaios maracanãs anombala oluhlaza, noma ama-Illinger’s macaw, kodwa baqaphela okuthile okungavamile. Elinye lamalungu alomhlambi lalihlukile—lilikhudlwana futhi liluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Kwakuyi-Spix’s macaw yasendle yokugcina! Bayiqaphela isikhathi esingangesonto futhi baphawula ukuthi i-Spix, ekwazi ngokwemvelo ukuphila nezinye izinyoni, yayilandela ama-Illinger ukuze ibhekane nesizungu eyayinaso futhi ithole umlingani. Manje-ke, lezi zinyoni eziluhlaza zazingenankinga ekwamukeleni lenyoni ephikelelayo eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka njengomngane—kodwa kuthiwani ngokuba zikhwelane? Yiqiniso, kunemingcele emphakathini wama-Illinger’s macaw aphucukile!

Ngakho, njengoba yayaliwa, i-Spix’s macaw yayihlukana nabangane bayo ekushoneni kwelanga usuku ngalunye futhi indizele emthini lapho yona nomlingani wayo wangaphambili oyi-Spix’s-macaw babehlale kuwo iminyaka eminingi—kwaze kwaba ngu-1988, unyaka abacuphi abaxhakathisa ngawo umlingani wayo wokuphila kwayo konke futhi bamthengisa ukuze ayovalelwa ezindlini zezinyoni. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ilala lapho yodwa—inqwatshana yezimpaphe eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka enesizungu eqhwakele kwelenyoni, elingatheli. Manje, ngaphandle kokuba kwenzeke isimangaliso, i-Spix’s macaw yokugcina eyazi indlela yokuphila endle ngokuqinisekile izogcina iqothulwe ngokuphelele—ngaphandle kokuba othile ayitholele umlingani. Lowo mbono wathandeka, futhi ngo-1991 kwaqaliswa i-Projeto Ararinha-Azul (uMsebenzi We-Spix’s macaw). Yayiyini injongo yayo? Ukuvikela inyoni yeduna esasele, ukuyitholela umlingani, ukuzihlanganisa, nokuthemba ukuthi zizophinde zigcwale kulendawo. Ingabe kuyaphumelela?

Kuye kwenziwa inqubekela phambili. UMnyango Weposi WaseBrazil wakuletha ekunakekeleni komphakathi lokho okungase kwenzeke kulenyoni esengozini enkulu yokuqothulwa kunazo zonke emhlabeni, ngokuba ukhiphe isitembu sokuyihlonipha. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo zaba nempumelelo ekuhlanganiseni abantu abangu-8000 abahlala eCuraçá, idolobha eliseduze nendawo okuhlala kuyo lenyoni enyakatho yeBahia, ukuze basekele i-Spix’s macaw esaphila. Njengoba abantu bakuleli dolobha babegade inyoni “yabo,” abayiqamba ngokuthi uSeverino, abacuphi manje baba sengozini yokubanjwa oqotsheni. Lelisu libonakala liphumelela. USeverino usaqhubeka endiza. Isithiyo esilandelayo naso sesiye sasingathwa—ukwenza abafuyi bezinyoni bavume ukuhlukana neyodwa yezinyoni eziyisithupha ezivalelwe ezisaphila eBrazil. (Bheka ibhokisi.) Omunye owayenazo wavuma, futhi ngo-August 1994 inyoni encane yensikazi, eyayibanjwe abacuphi iseyiphuphu, yahanjiswa ngendiza iyiswa eCuraçá ukuze iyokhululwa futhi ibuye iphile endaweni yayo yemvelo.

Ukuba Sesimweni Esifanele Nokuhlanganiswa

Le-macaw yensikazi yafakwa endlini enkulu yokugcina izinyoni ebekwe kuyo kanye indawo okuhlala kuyo lenyoni yeduna futhi yanikwa ukudla okudliwa ama-macaw endle. Ukuze yenziwe ikulungele ukuphila endaweni engokwemvelo, abanakekeli bayo bayilumula ekudleni izinhlamvu zikajikanelanga—ukudla kwayo okuvamile kwalapho ibivalelwe khona—futhi bayiphakela izinhlamvu zezihlahla zikaphayini nezithelo ezinameva zendawo ezimila endle. Isisu sayo sajwayela kahle.

Ukuyivivinya kwansuku zonke kwaba enye ingxenye yohlelo lokuqeqesha—futhi ngesizathu esizwakalayo. Ukulindela ukuba inyoni ekhulele ekhejini ikwazi ukundiza ngendlela efanayo nomlingani wayo othanda ukundiza amakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 ngosuku, izinsuku zilandelana, kufana nokucela umuntu othanda ukugqolozela ithelevishini ukuba asubathe emjahweni webanga elide. Ngakho ukuze ziqinise imisipha yayo, izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo ezinakekela lenyoni evalelwe zayikhuthaza ukuba indize igcwale yonke indawo kulendlu egcinwe kuyo ngangokunokwenzeka.

Akuthathanga sikhathi ukuba uSeverino ayithole lendlu yokugcina izinyoni. Ngemva kokuba ebone insikazi, wanswininiza, wayibiza, futhi wasondela waba sebangeni lamamitha angu-30 ukusuka kulendlu yokugcina izinyoni. “Insikazi,” kusho uMarcos Da-Ré, isazi sezinto eziphilayo esasihileleke kulomsebenzi, yasabela futhi “yabonisa ukujabula okukhulu” lapho iqaphela isivakashi sayo seduna. Ukujabula kwayo, esho, “kwasenza saba nethemba.”

Uthisha Nobaba . . .

Ekugcineni, lwafika usuku olukhulu: umnyango wendlu yokugcina izinyoni wavuleka. Ngemva kokungabaza isikhathi esiyingxenye yehora, insikazi yandiza yaphuma yaye yayohlala emthini osemamitheni angu-300 ukusuka kulendlu yayo. Kodwa wayekuphi uSeverino? Wayekude ngamakhilomitha angu-30, ephinde walandela ama-Illinger’s macaw. Kungani ahamba? Phela, ngemva kokuba elinde kuleyo ndawo izinyanga ezithile, lapho ekugcineni kufika inkathi yokubekela amaqanda, umlingani wakhe wesikhathi esizayo wayesalokhu evalelwe. Kumelwe ukuba uye wacabanga ukuthi “i-maracanã ekhululekile ingcono kakhulu kune-ararinha evalelwe,” kuntela isazi sezinto eziphilayo uDa-Ré. Kulokhu, ukuphikelela kukaSeverino kwaba nemiphumela. Enye i-Illinger’s macaw yensikazi yavuma futhi yamamukela njengomlingani.

Nokho, izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo zinethemba lokuthi lapho sekudlule inkathi yokukhwelana, uSeverino uzoyeka ukuthandana nalenyoni, abuyele kwelakubo, athole i-Spix’s-macaw ekhululekile, futhi ayithathe njengomlingani wakhe. Ngemva kwalokho, ulindeleke ukuba athathe indima embaxambili—uthisha nobaba. Njengoba ewukuphela kwe-Spix’s macaw emhlabeni eyazi indlela yokuphila endle, kufanele afundise umlingani wakhe indlela yokuthola ukudla nendawo yokuhlala kanye nokuphila kwenye yezindawo zaseBrazil engatheli ukuzedlula zonke.

. . . Nengqopha-mlando

Ngakho lapho kuphinde kuqala inkathi yokubekela amaqanda, izazi zesayensi yezinto eziphilayo ezihileleke eMsebenzini We-Spix’s-macaw ziyosiza ekutheni uSeverino ayeke ukulandela ama-Illinger’s macaw futhi agxile ekutholeni umuthi onesigoxi esingaba isidleke somlingani wakhe. Uma konke kuhamba kahle, i-Spix’s-macaw yensikazi izobekela amaqanda amancane amabili, futhi ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, uSeverino uzobe esefundisa ikilasi lezinyoni ezintathu izindlela zokuphila. Ingabe kuzoqhubeka kuze kufike lapho?

“Kuzothatha isikhathi ukuba sazi leyo mpendulo,” kusho isazi sesayensi yezinto eziphilayo uYamashita, “kodwa lomsebenzi ungase ube ukuphela kwendlela yokugwema ukuba i-Spix’s macaw yasendle ibe enye yezinyoni eziqothuliwe emlandweni.” Manje sekukuSeverino ukuba athathe leli thuba futhi enze isiqalo esisha. Uma lokhu kuhlanganiswa kwalezi zinyoni kuba impumelelo, abathandi bemvelo—nama-Illinger’s macaw—bayothola ukuphumula.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 24]

Izinyoni Ezivalelwe

Kunama-Spix’s macaw angaba ngu-30 avalelwe. Ezingaphezu kuka-12 zalezi zinyoni zaseBrazil zikhuliswe isazi sokukhuliswa kwezinyoni ePhilippines futhi zisaqhubeka zihlala kulelozwe lase-Asia. Ezinye kulezi zinyoni ezivalelwe zihlala eBrazil, eSpain, naseSwitzerland. Nokho, zonke lezi zinyoni ezivalelwe zintula imfanelo okunguSeverino kuphela onayo—ikhono lokuphila endle.

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Ilondoloziwe—okungenani esitembini

[Umthombo]

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