U.K. Zoo Sets Up 2 Endangered Parrots in Attempt to Save Species: 'Hottest New Couple'

The pairing is a "necessary and important step" to save the red-fronted macaw, a Twycross Zoo employee said

At Twycross Zoo, love is literally in the air!

The zoo and conservation charity in Leicestershire, England, is taking blind dating to the next level to save a species of parrot whose population is dwindling, it announced in a press release on July 8.

The red-fronted macaws — a rare and endangered species of parrots native to Bolivia — recently arrived at the facility and were paired off in hopes that they breed, per the release. They came from different U.K. zoos, the male from Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo and the female from Welsh Mountain Zoo in Wales.

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According to the American Bird Conservancy, the species, a national symbol of pride and identity in Bolivia, is experiencing a rapid population decline. With less than 300 in the wild, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has them categorized as "critically endangered,” Twycross noted.

But if a love match arises at the English zoo, everything could change.

Rhys McKie, a Twycross employee who was working at Edinburgh Zoo when the male macaw was born, said that it’s “always an exciting day when a new animal arrives.” However, given the importance of the birds' prospective union — plus his reunion with the male — their entrance is particularly “special.”

"When he hatched last year, it was the first time in over 15 years that the species had been successfully bred at the zoo,” McKie, an assistant bird curator, said of the male macaw. “So, to now give him a home at Twycross Zoo where he will continue the conservation journey and hopefully breed more of this rare species, is very momentous for me.”

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Twycross’s director of conservation, Dr. Rebecca Biddle, underscored the significance of the bird’s potential offspring.

“I’m delighted to welcome a brand-new breeding pair to the zoo,” Biddle said. “I’m so proud to see Twycross Zoo leading the way for the conservation of this incredibly important species.”

Bringing the birds together “to hopefully facilitate breeding further down the line,” she added, “is a necessary and important step to save this species.”

As of Tuesday, July 16, Twycross Zoo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's inquiry about the parrots' romantic status.

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Regardless of whether sparks fly between the birds — which the zoo dubbed its “hottest new couple” — McKie said he is excited for visitors to soak in their beauty.

“The species stands out for their bright red forehead of feathers and long blue-green tail," he said, adding that in the wild, the birds “can only be found in a small semi-desert, mountainous region of Bolivia, making them unique amongst macaws.”

“I’m looking forward to our visitors getting the chance to see them and our other stunning parrot species in our parrot habitat,” he added.

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