[ECO]Blue Throated Hillstar Conservation Effort Launched to Save Ecuador’s Newest Hummingbird

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The Indianapolis Zoo has awarded a million-dollar grant for Blue Throated Hillstar conservation to protect the endangered hummingbird species discovered just seven years ago.

The Indianapolis Zoo has committed $1 million to support Blue Throated Hillstar conservation, aiming to protect one of the world’s rarest hummingbirds discovered just seven years ago in Ecuador’s remote Chillan Mountain range. The Blue Throated Hillstar population, with fewer than 110 adult birds remaining, represents one of South America’s most endangered species and highlights the ongoing challenges of preserving newly discovered species in rapidly changing environments.

This remarkable hummingbird, central to the Blue Throated Hillstar conservation effort, has evolved unique adaptations for survival in its harsh mountain environment. Living at elevations exceeding 12,000 feet, the species possesses specialized hemoglobin that enhances oxygen capture in thin mountain air. Its larger body size compared to lowland hummingbirds helps conserve heat in the cold climate, while specialized flight muscles enable efficient hovering in low-density air. The male’s distinctive blue throat patch, which gives the species its name, becomes iridescent during courtship displays. These adaptations make the species uniquely suited to the páramo ecosystem, a high-altitude tropical moorland characterized by cold temperatures, intense ultraviolet radiation, and extreme daily temperature fluctuations.

The

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, awarded through the Zoo’s Saving Species Challenge, will fund Ecuadorian conservation group Fundación Jocotoco’s Blue Throated Hillstar conservation plan to expand protected habitats in southwestern Ecuador. The bird’s entire population exists within a mere 24 square miles of high-elevation terrain, where mining operations and land-burning practices threaten its survival. The Saving Species Challenge, launched in 2023, represents a new approach to species conservation by focusing substantial resources on a single critically endangered species with a clear path to recovery.

The grant selection process was rigorous and comprehensive. Selected from 52 applications spanning 46 countries, Jocotoco’s preservation strategy stood out to an international panel of conservation experts for its combination of immediate action and long-term sustainability planning. The organization has established the Cerro de Arcos Reserve in the bird’s habitat and plans to collaborate with local communities to extend protected areas. This community-based approach has proven crucial in previous conservation successes.

The urgency of Blue Throated Hillstar conservation efforts stems from the bird’s 2017 discovery and subsequent classification as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Under the grant’s terms, Jocotoco has five years to implement their preservation plan and improve the species’ IUCN Red List status. The organization’s strategy includes habitat restoration, community education programs, and the establishment of protected corridors between existing populations.

The Chillan Mountain range, where the Blue Throated Hillstar makes its home, presents unique conservation challenges. The area’s high-altitude ecosystem hosts several endemic plant species that the hummingbird depends on for survival. These plants, particularly the Chuquiraga jussieui, provide essential nectar resources and are themselves threatened by habitat degradation. The complex relationship between the hummingbird and its food plants makes ecosystem-wide protection critical for the species’ survival.

Jocotoco brings proven experience to this challenge of Blue Throated Hillstar conservation. The organization previously rescued the Pale-Headed Brushfinch from near extinction, successfully increasing its population fivefold after protecting its last remaining habitat. This track record suggests similar success might be possible for the Blue Throated Hillstar. Their approach combines scientific monitoring with practical conservation measures, including regular population surveys, habitat restoration, and cooperation with local landowners.

The Indianapolis Zoo has positioned itself as a leader in global conservation efforts. Operating without direct tax support despite being the largest zoo in the United States, the institution manages several significant conservation initiatives. Beyond the Saving Species Challenge, the Zoo oversees the Indianapolis Prize – widely recognized as the world’s leading award for animal conservation. The Zoo’s Global Center for Species Survival, established in partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, coordinates conservation efforts worldwide.

The preservation of the Blue Throated Hillstar represents more than saving a single species. Success would demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted conservation efforts and provide a model for protecting other

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in rapidly developing regions. The project also highlights the critical role of zoos in modern conservation, extending their influence far beyond traditional exhibits to support field conservation where it matters most.

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