Page 76 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Birds on the brink

Captive breeding
programmes are
trying to save these
beautiful birds

Saving the magpies
Organisations across the world are working
together to prevent the extinction of Javan
green magpies
Cikananga Wildlife Centre
This Indonesian conservation organisation
has a dedicated breeding centre working to
conserve endangered species from across
the island. They have 14 hectares (34.6
acres) of land in Java, and have rescued
more than 3,750 animals. Their expert team
works closely with organisations from
across the world to set up and maintain
breeding programmes for some of the most
endangered animals in the world.
As part of this initiative, they have been
breeding Javan green magpies, and their
first chick hatched in 2013. As of October
2016, there were 19 magpies at the centre.
However, despite their best efforts, they
face a constant threat. According to their
collaborators at Chester Zoo, the facility has
experienced a number of break-ins and the‹s
by pet traders who are keen to sell the rare
animals to collectors.
Chester Zoo
Act for Wildlife is an initiative led by the
Chester Zoo team that aims to protect the
natural world. They work in partnership with Fight not flight
other expert organisations to safeguard Andew Owen, Curator of Birds at Chester Zoo, explains the battle to save these birds
animals in their natural habitats and
in captivity. For the past six years, this What makes the Javan green magpie worth saving? bird experts hope to develop the first ever captive breeding
British zoo has been working closely with Javan green magpies are a critically endangered species programme for the species outside of Indonesia, in a last
conservationists in Indonesia to change found on the Indonesian island of Java. They are critically ditch attempt to ensure the continued survival of these highly
the fortunes of the Javan green magpie. In endangered due to the species having a very small and threatened birds.
October 2016, as a result of break-ins at the fragmented population because of ongoing trapping and We were thrilled when four Javan green magpies hatched
Cikananga Wildlife Centre, 12 of the birds continued loss and degradation of suitable habitat. They are in June and August of this year (2016). It was the first time
were moved to Europe for their own safety. worth saving because of their rarity; there are only around the world’s rarest magpie had hatched in a UK zoo, which
Since then, the zoo has been working hard to 100 of these beautiful birds le in the wild. This is why we provided a major boost to conservation efforts to save the
establish a breeding programme to ensure must do all we can to save the species, and setting up the species from extinction.
their future. The first chicks were born in captive breeding programme was a step towards succeeding
June 2016, and there are now a total of four in this. What is the plan for the future?
new additions to the family. Chester Zoo is a centre of excellence for conservation
How is Chester Zoo trying to help? breeding and management. The survival of endangered
Prague Zoo We’ve been working with the Cikananga Wildlife Centre’s species is increasingly more reliant on the sustainability of
Another expert European zoo were given a Conservation Breeding Programme in Java for five years, zoo populations. By investigating factors that could negatively
pair of Javan green magpies in 2015. Working where Chester Zoo both finances and lends our expertise to impact on the reproductive viability of populations, we
closely with Cikananga Wildlife Centre, the our conservation partners in Indonesia. Our mission here can make informed management decisions to boost the
team in the Czech Republic have been sharing includes tracking down the birds with the beautiful green reproductive success of threatened species. By managing zoo
their expertise in the captive breeding of plumage, trawling markets and interviewing traders. Over populations effectively we’re also maximising the chances of
time we have managed to rescue a handful of birds and set
exotic birds on-site in Indonesia, and have
captive bred individuals being successfully reintroduced back
© Andrew Owen, Chester Zoo; FLPA boost the number kept safely in captivity. their country of origin before, but because people in the area established in the field, and the knowledge and skills of zoo
into the wild.
up a breeding centre. We have successfully bred the birds in
taken custody of the adults in an effort to
In some cases, conservation breeding centres need to be
Between Prague Zoo, Chester Zoo and the
see the birds as such prized possessions, the breeding centre
Cikananga Wildlife Centre, there are now
staff is critical in ensuring their success in re-establishing
was broken into multiple times and birds were stolen.
populations in the wild. In the future, we wish to continue with
In January 2016, 12 Javan green magpies were flown
more than 30 birds living under the careful
watch of bird experts and away from the
to Chester Zoo from Indonesia in a bid to save them from
our hard work in saving this beautiful bird, and we hope to
dangers that they face in their natural habitat.
76 extinction. This is to establish a vital insurance population. Our reintroduce them back to their place of origin: Indonesia.
072-076_WOA041 Conserving Birds.indd 76 01/12/2016 11:31