This at-risk species is fighting for survival in the biological corridor shared by Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. It’s here where wildlife traffickers pluck the chicks from their nests.Experts estimate there are fewer than 1,000 scarlet macaws remaining in this corridor. Travel the pathways of what was once the Mayan world, and you’ll see images of the scarlet macaw, appearing at bus stations and on advertisements for hundreds of tour operators. But for this emblematic species, its own pathways for moving and surviving seem to be closing. The last corridor for the scarlet macaw in Latin America crosses Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. It’s here that this species is fighting against the continued loss of habitat caused by forest fires, the expansion of farming and the appearance of new human settlements. And on top of all that, it faces an ongoing siege by the wildlife traffickers who target its young. Environmental organizations consulted by Mongabay in the three countries estimate there are fewer than 1,000 scarlet macaws remaining in this corridor. However, it’s believed that a greater number are kept as pets, bought on the black market. Even some high-ranking officials have been found in possession of the birds.