Rare Blue-Eyed Dove Chicks Hatched: A Hopeful Conservation Triumph!

Quick Smiles:

• Three blue-eyed ground doves have been successfully hatched and hand-reared in Brazil, providing hope for their species.
• The collaboration between a UK zoo and international conservationists highlights the importance of global teamwork in wildlife preservation.
• With only 11 of these doves left in the wild, each new chick represents a significant step in conservation efforts.

In a remarkable conservation success, a UK zoo has played a pivotal role in hatching three of the world’s rarest birds. These blue-eyed ground dove chicks have been hand-reared in Brazil, marking a potential turning point in efforts to save this critically endangered species from extinction.

The conservation team, comprising experts from the UK zoo and their Brazilian and American counterparts, worked tirelessly in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This region is the sole habitat of these elusive doves, which had been shrouded in mystery for over 70 years until their rediscovery in 2015.

Andrew Owen, the zoo’s head of birds, expressed his enthusiasm:
“It’s a real privilege for us to be involved in the work to help conserve the blue-eyed ground dove.”

He emphasized the dedication of the international team, noting that without their passion, this unique bird might have been lost forever.

The initiative to hatch these chicks began earlier this year with a meticulous process of selecting and incubating wild-laid eggs. This effort aims to bolster the insurance population of the species, which is essential for their survival.

Andrew Owen and Victoria Kaldis traveled to Brazil to lend their expertise. Their mission was supported by Parque das Aves and SAVE Brasil, with additional help from other international zoos.

Paloma Bosso, technical director of Parque das Aves, shared her excitement:
“Seeing these chicks is exciting. Each hatching represents a real chance to reverse the fate of this species.”

The blue-eyed ground dove, listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, once thrived in the Brazilian savanna. However, habitat destruction has drastically reduced their numbers, leaving only a small population in Botumirim, Minas Gerais.

Ben Phalan, head of conservation at Parque das Aves, highlighted the collective effort needed to preserve this species:
“The blue-eyed ground dove depends on the efforts of many people and institutions, so that its song can be heard in the Cerrado for many years to come.”

With the successful hatching of these chicks, conservationists are hopeful that the blue-eyed ground dove will continue to sing in its natural habitat for generations to come.

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