Enchanting insight into island’s wonderful wildlife T

HERE’S a parrot in Puerto Rico that’s so rare, at one point only 13 remained in the world. Each is so special it is fitted with a radio transmitter to be tracked.

And now, hidden in the rainforest at a secret location as if this were a Bond movie, there is a breeding centre to encourage the parrots to mate, and save this nearly extinct species.

“We provide the dating service, we provide the room, just for them to make love, sweet love!” says one staff member at the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Programme.

This is just one of the places we visit in this fascinating documentary, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, which follows those going to extrordinary lengths to save an island that “wants to remain enchanted”. The Caribbean island was named the isle of enchantment, but the paradise is now in danger of being lost – a staggering 95% of the island’s rainforests have already gone. Sir David says: “An explosion of development, industry and agriculture is pushing nature to the edges. Now a dedicated group of naturalists are working tirelesly to protect the island’s most threatened wildlife.”

Jafet Velez manages the parrot programme, and we follow him as he releases his biggest ever flock of 24 birds into the rainforest.

Another wildlife champion is Carlos Diez, working to protect five native species of oceanic turtle. Thanks to him, there is now an international agreement banning trade on Hawksbill turtle shell. But he is still fighting a case to protect a Leatherback turtle nest site.

And Tony Mignucci runs a Manatee Conservation Centre that rescues orphaned and injured manatees.

The film follows him as he rehabilitates two young manatees that are being prepared for return to the ocean. With only 700 left in the wild, every single one counts.