Tropiquaria breeding success helping to save endangered bird species

THE Tropiquaria animal centre, at Washford Cross, has revealed a major breeding success with an endangered species of bird, the Northern Helmeted Curassow.
The large birds live in Venezuela and North Columbia, where their numbers are thought to be less than 10,000.
Attempts to conserve them in the wild have been difficult because of the need to enforce the existing protection laws.
Triopiquaria has what is believed to be the only breeding pair in the UK, and through removing the eggs and incubating them artificially, staff have bred and are in the process of rearing 10 chicks this year.
Senior keeper Vicky Roe-Mottershead said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in breeding such interesting birds and to be contributing to what is a truly international rescue project.”
Tropiquaria managing director Chris Moiser said: “The staff have worked really hard on this project, and when you consider that the parents normally only rear two young a year, having 10 at various stages of development is truly wonderful.”
Tropiquaria normally opens only at weekends from the end of October, but is now available for exclusive weekday group bookings between November and February.

• Our photograph shows keepers Sarah Crawley (left) and Becky Welsh with the two youngest Curassow chicks. Photo submitted.