Captive-rearing of White-bellied heron hatches a chick
May 11, 2011 - The White-bellied heron is a critically endangered species as per the IUCN’s category (2007). With the current global population estimated to be less than 200 of which Bhutan has 26 numbers, it is of great conservation significance to Bhutan to embark on saving the bird.
The ongoing white-bellied heron conservation project is conducting a research on captive breeding of the bird at Phochu in Punakha. To begin with, RSPN in collaboration with Department of Livestock and Department of Forests and Park Services under Ministry of Agriculture and Forests have undertaken a captive-rearing of the bird to address the high mortality rates at its infant period due to predation and other calamities such as forest fires. Such program is first of its kind in the world for white-bellied heron.
On 7th May 2011 at around 5:50 AM, a chick was hatched successfully in its hatchery house in Phochu in Punakha. At the hatching time, it weighed 54.9 grams. The picture shown above is a chick, which is 4 days old, weighing 59.7 grams.
At the time of writing this report, it was 5 days old and it weighed 76.7 grams. The officials at the hatchery say that the chick is very active and feeding well. It is fed twice a day and consumes about 13 fishes, which are 3cm-5cm long.
With the expertise in rearing of other similar heron species and bird species, we have sought assistance from San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the USA in the form of expertise of Donald J. Sterner and Debra Keiko Marlow, who are experts in such field. San Diego Zoo Safari is well known for recovery of similar kind of endangered species.
After successful rearing of the bird, it will be released. This program is aimed in recovering the rapidly declining population of White-bellied heron in the world.
Source: RSPN (Royal Society for Protection of Nature)
Birding experience in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
About Me
- Bhutan birding
- Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan
- I am from Bhutan. Bhutan has some of the most pristine habitat and most beautiful birds in the world. I have been birding and exploring my country’s varied ecosystems now for over10 years. I have spent many days and weeks locating the best places to find the rare species including all of the difficult wren-babblers, laughing thrushes and other important species for Bhutan. I am also specializes in recording, and have a large library, including songs donated to Cornell University and xeno-canto. I have led many birding groups, and have long years experience finding and helping birders see their target species. I also have a good knowledge of our culture, and add this dimension to my tours based on the desires of my clients.
