Zoo celebrates as 'incredibly rare' chicks hatch

Conservationists from Chester Zoo are celebrating after three "incredibly rare" birds have hatched as part of an international conservation project.

The blue-eyed ground doves, which were reared at the Parque das Aves conservation centre in Brazil, are in danger of becoming extinct, the zoo said.

Bird experts at the zoo have been working on the project alongside colleagues from the South American Country and the USA.

The zoo's head of birds, Andrew Owen, travelled to Brazil to provide technical support for the project, alongside lead keeper for birds, Victoria Kaldis, who helped with the hand-rearing of the chicks.

The zoo said just 11 adult members of the species lived in the wild, but they hoped that chicks hatched in human care could help turn the tide.

The chicks were hatched after being incubated as part of a joint effort between Chester Zoo, Parque das Aves and SAVE Brasil, with support from Toledo Zoo and Bronx Zoo in the USA.

It said this was the most successful hatch since the project began, boosting the survival odds of one of the most endangered birds in the world.

In 2015, the blue-eyed ground dove - Columbina cyanopis - was rediscovered after there had been no confirmed sightings for over 70 years.

The species, which is only found in Brazil, faces threats in the wild including human-caused fires and climate change.

Chester Zoo experts were among a team which carefully selected and incubated a small number of wild-laid eggs, the zoo said.

"It's a real privilege for Chester Zoo to be involved in the work to help conserve the blue-eyed ground dove," Mr Owen said.

"This unique species is on the brink of extinction and without the dedication and passion of all the conservationists involved, including Chester Zoo's bird staff, this bird may be lost forever."

He said the arrival of the chicks built on the successes of 2023 and 2024 and doubled the conservation-breeding insurance population.

Mr Owen said that "around-the-clock care and attention are needed to rear these tiny and delicate birds".

It was hoped that the doves, once mature, would start to breed in their purpose-built aviaries at Parque das Aves, he added.

Paloma Bosso, technical director of Parque das Aves, said it was "a joy and also a great responsibility" to see the three chicks.

"Each hatching represents a real chance to reverse the fate of this species," she said.

Parque das Aves is now home to six blue-eyed ground doves.

The species is critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

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