CAPE PARROT PROJECT

If there’s one creature that loves the Amathole forest more than a trail runner, it’s South Africa’s endemic Cape Parrot.

The charismatic bird which serenades you on your journey through the mountains is critically endangered because the mistbelt forests in which they live have been heavily logged historically and are degraded.

 Through research, community engagement and conservation action, the Cape Parrot Project is working hard to raise awareness of this and the urgent need to safeguard the parrots and their habitat.

Together with the Cape Parrot Project, an NPO under the wing of The Wild Bird Trust, we have selected a restoration site which we aim to populate with the variety of tree species needed to grow into a forest fit for our Green-and-Gold mascot to thrive in.

 Starting in 2024, every finisher of the Hobbit Mountain Marathon and the Hobbit Journey will be gifted a locally grown tree sapling instead of a medal, which will be planted and nurtured at the site by the Cape Parrot Project.
Saplings will also be available for purchase to any runner who wishes to see the area which they just enjoyed being expanded.
Plant today and run trail tomorrow* through the very forest you helped create!

 Join us in our mission to protect the Cape Parrots and their habitat. Follow The Cape Parrot Project on Instagram or Facebook, or visit wildbirdtrust.com to learn how you can help.

 *Some artistic and alliteration license used here 😉 You may have to wait a bit longer than a day. But come back next year and see…

Images from - Tara Naeser | Rodnick Clifton Biljon | Stewart MacLachlan