Chester Zoo Celebrates Hatching of Critically Endangered Blue-Eyed Ground Doves

Edited by: Olga Samsonova

Chester Zoo has announced the hatching of three critically endangered blue-eyed ground doves, a species native to Brazil. This marks a significant step in the conservation efforts for a bird that has faced immense challenges.

The blue-eyed ground dove is a mysterious bird, with no confirmed sightings for over 70 years until its rediscovery in 2017. With only eleven known to survive in the wild, the species faces threats like human-caused fires and climate change.

Experts from Chester Zoo carefully selected and incubated a small number of wild-laid eggs. This initiative aims to create an insurance population in human care. A team of Brazilian and international bird conservationists also contributed to the project.

Andrew Owen, Chester Zoo's Head of Birds, has been involved since 2019, providing technical support in Brazil. Victoria Kaldis, Lead Keeper for Birds at Chester Zoo, also participated. The successful hand-rearing of three doves this year doubles the conservation-breeding insurance population.

The long-term goal is to establish a viable insurance population that can help reinforce the blue-eyed ground dove in the wild. The doves, once mature, will breed in purpose-built aviaries at Parque das Aves.

The IUCN Red List classifies the blue-eyed ground dove as critically endangered. Habitat loss, driven by farming and timber plantations, has drastically reduced their range. The only known population resides in Botumirim, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Conservationists are working to maintain Cerrado habitats. This will enable the eventual release of birds from human care, boosting the wild population. SAVE Brasil, with support from Botumirim State Park, has suspended visits to the Blue-eyed Ground Dove Nature Reserve to minimize environmental stress on the remaining wild birds.

Sources

  • Liverpool Echo

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