The curl-crested araçari is not a common species kept in captivity in the United States, but their friendly disposition makes them well-suited pets.
The curl-crested araçari is not a common species kept in captivity in the United States.
The San Diego Zoo kept some curl-crested araçaris and some of their offspring ended up at the Dallas World Aquarium. In 2004, Jerry Jennings, the president and director of Emerald Forest Bird Gardens in Fallbrook, California imported the species and sold some to the Dallas World Aquarium and the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina.
Now, over 40 pairs of curl-crested araçari are scattered around the United States and Jerry Jennings has 14 breeding pairs. As such, there is sufficient breeding pairs set up for the species to be available to private aviculturists. Their friendly disposition makes them fantastic pets. As hand-fed babies, they readily imprint on their human companions and quickly bond. They are easily trained to potty in the appropriate place as well as do a number of unique bird tricks. They are curious, inquisitive and playful and a delight both in appearance and personality.
These active araçaris require large, planted flights. Aaraçaris are generally docile and can be kept with smaller birds, but not birds so small that they or their young could be considered as prey by these large birds, such as finches. Breeding pairs are best kept alone.
• Image | © Brian Henderson, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0)
• Sources | (Dallas World Aquarium, 2019; Johnson, 2011)
