Twelve ‘critically endangered’ curlew chicks hatch at Fota Wildlife Park – The Irish Times

Twelve “critically endangered” Eurasian curlew chicks have hatched at Fota Flora and fauna Soil in Co Cork, with extra chicks anticipated to hatch within the coming weeks as section a conservation initiative.

The chicks hatched from 31 viable eggs, that have been accumulated within the wild in places throughout Eire as a part of the Breeding Waders Eu Innovation Partnership (EIP) programme.

Fota Flora and fauna Soil is i’m busy in diverse headstarting conservation tasks for endangered species, together with the local curlew. Headstarting conservation sees endangered species raised in an atmosphere the place they’re distant from predators, prior to being all set distant within the wild.

At Fota, chicks are raised till they’re in a position to flight. They are going to later be discharged again to their local habitats. Curlews can are living for as much as 32 years.

Declan O’Donovan, animal support supervisor at Fota Flora and fauna Soil, stated that the curlew was once as soon as a familiar ocular in Eire’s toilets and wetlands, however is now significantly endangered, “having experienced a staggering 98 per cent decline since the 1970s”.

“This alarming trend places the breeding curlew on the brink of extinction. At Fota Wildlife Park, we are deeply committed to this conservation project, as protecting native species is a priority,” he stated.

Fota Flora and fauna Soil could also be i’m busy within the conservation of the natterjack toad. To year, over 9,000 toadlets had been reared on the terrain, prior to being discharged again to their local residence in Co Kerry.

The Breeding Waders Eu Innovation Partnership (EIP) programme is jointed funded via the Nationwide Landscapes and Flora and fauna Carrier on the Section of Housing, Native Govt and Heritage, and the Section of Agriculture, Meals, and the Marine.