First captive breeding of White Bellied Heron.
Posted on May, 30 2011
On 7th May, 2011 at around 5:50 am, a 54.9 grams chick was hatched successfully in its hatchery house in Phochu in Punakha district.
On 7th May, 2011 at around 5:50 am, a 54.9 grams chick was hatched successfully in its hatchery house in Phochu in Punakha district.
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, Bhutan is said to be home to 26 of them. This is a first captive initiative in the world to conserve white-bellied heron in the world.
Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN-a national NGO working on conserving the species) in collaboration with Department of Livestock and Department of Forests and Park Services under the 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.
This program is aimed in recovering the rapidly declining population of White-bellied heron in the world. Captive-breeding is also one of the strategic measures to mitigate the impacts of the upcoming Punatshangchu hydro power project along the Phochu River which is the largest habitat area for White-bellied heron in Bhutan.
Two technical experts from San Diego Zoo Safari Park who have experience in rearing other similar heron species have been assisting the team through the whole process. Their hardwork was paid off when a chick successfully hatched on 7th May, 2011. The officials at the hatchery say that the chick is very active and feeding well. It feeds twice a day on 13 fishes, each measuring about 3cm-5cm long. They will released after the parenting period.
Punatshangchu Hydropower Project Authority is one of the primary donor for the project. WWF Bhutan, Felburn Foundation, WWF Bhutan and Whitley Fund are other donors.
Punatshangchu Hydropower Project Authority is one of the primary donor for the project. WWF Bhutan, Felburn Foundation, WWF Bhutan and Whitley Fund are other donors.
Twenty days old chick
© RSPN
Twenty days old chick
© RSPN
Captive breeding center
© WWF
Captive breeding center
© WWF