What has hair as perfectly coiffed as Elvis' and as stunningly bright as a Red Hot?
The Araripe Manakin.
The males of the species don fiery red feathers on their frontal tufts and jet black wings and tails, making them one of the most striking bird species.
But they might not be able to strut their stuff for long. Fewer than 800 of these native Brazilian hair daredevils still exist today, classifying them as critically endangered. Scientists located only 46 nests from 2004-2007. Their homes on the northeastern slopes of Chapada do Araripe dwindle away more each year as their habitats become ruined by agriculture and replaced by recreational facilities.
Plans to designate their dwelling area as a biological reserve or national park are underway. The owner of the land adjacent to the type-locality also declared to protect the remaining forest area once he learned of the species' existence. However, these little birds need our help in the form of environmental protection and conservation. Remembering to reduce our impact can mean the difference between life and death for the Araripe Manakin and other animals.
