Only eight chicks of this rare species of bird survived

Auckland – In February of this year, New Zealand was swept away by the devastating cyclone Gabriel. Numerous blocks of water came under it the animals about life. Of the offspring of the rare white tern, only eight survived!

A disastrous result and severe setback to the breeding season, which falls during the winter months in the southern hemisphere.

Three wild chicks hatched, of which two survived Hurricane Gabriel We got lost. Fortunately, the cute chicks have been replaced by seven birds that were released as part of a breeding program at Auckland Zoo.

Like a zoo Facebook He writes, education is expensive. Specially trained personnel are required to take care of the birds exclusively.

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But effort is necessary. The white bird, called “Tara-iti” in New Zealand, is estimated to have less than 40 (!) individuals. Of these, only ten birds breed females.

The fairy tern has been on the verge of extinction since the 1970s, according to the New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency. A standing alarm for concerned animal rights activists.

The problem: Birds react very sensitively to their surroundings, and are particularly defenseless and therefore vulnerable to predators. Examples of the latter are cats or stoats.

Ranger Alex Wilson told the magazine Thingsbut birds cannot be settled on islands free of predators because they need a “very special ecosystem” to reproduce.

The New Zealand government has now taken measures to improve the living conditions of the cute fairy terns and their chicks. The quality of hatcheries, of which there are only five across the country, will be improved through targeted treatment.

As the number of birds dwindles, the importance of human breeding will increase in the future. Ranger Alex Wilson: “Many of the eggs collected specifically for captive breeding this season would have likely been lost during severe weather events.”

for the better Protecting brood nests The government requires residents to use designated walking paths only, to take their own rubbish with them and to keep dogs and cats on leashes.