SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A pair of rare Philippine cockatoos, known to be notoriously difficult to breed in captivity, hatched a chick in Bird Paradise four months ago and it is now learning to fly.
A breeding pair of the birds, also known as red-vented cockatoos, had hatched the chick 10 years since being rescued in Palawan and brought to Singapore, said the Mandai Wildlife Group and its conservation arm Mandai Nature in a statement on Thursday (Oct 16).
The pair had not bred during that period, although there was “cautious optimism for a successful outcome” this breeding season, the statement said.
When keepers found the chick, they had it assessed by the veterinary healthcare team and later transferred it to the Breeding and Research Centre, where it was raised by human carers.
For now, the chick is being cared for at Bird Paradise and is not part of the exhibit. Future plans are being discussed with a Philippine non-governmental organisation.
There are fewer than 750 mature Philippine cockatoos in the wild, with most of them located on the Palawan islands, located west of the Philippines and off the coast of Sabah.
Anais Tritto, assistant vice-president of animal care (operations) at Mandai Wildlife Group, said the fledgling is a reminder of how zoos can support species recovery by preserving genetic diversity and maintaining a safety-net population.
She said: “Watching this chick grow, we’re reminded why conservation matters – not just for the species, but also for the people behind the scenes.” - The Straits Times/ANN
