Lagos Zoo has achieved a landmark conservation success with the birth of Portugal's first Southern ground hornbill, becoming the first institution in the country to successfully breed the vulnerable species in captivity.
The arrival of the newly-hatched chick marks a major milestone for the zoo's team, which has been caring for the breeding pair for the past 17 years. Following years of dedicated husbandry and close monitoring, the zoo has achieved its first successful breeding of the species.
The Southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, facing a range of threats across its native African habitat.
According to Lagos Zoo, the birth represents an important contribution to the species' conservation and to the international breeding programmes coordinated by zoological institutions to safeguard threatened wildlife.
The chick is reported to be in good health and remains under the care of its parents, whilst being monitored daily by the zoo's specialist animal care team.
Lagos Zoo has commented that the successful birth underlines its long-term commitment to biodiversity conservation, and highlights the impact of years of work dedicated to protecting endangered species.
Source: Lagos Zoo
Photo credit: Lagos Zoo
