When conservation efforts began in 1975, there were a mere thirteen of these birds left in the wild. The Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program was incorporated into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. An aviary was established in Luquillo inside of the El Yunque National Forest to begin the captive breeding of them. Once a steady flock of birds was established, the congregation was split and sent to an aviary in Rio Abajo, on the opposite side of the island. The enabled breeding program has had a favorable outcome, with over 190 birds held in captive between the two aviaries. Slowly, these birds are being released into the wild. An