Conservation & captive breeding
Peter Cranswick, Head of Species Recovery for WWT visited the centre today we a inspirational talk about how conservationists are trying a range of techniques to try and save Madagascar Pochard and Spoon-billed Sandpipers from extinction and reintroduce Cranes into the British countryside. These threatened species are due to changeling environments, poor countries, hunting etc. Slimbridge focus is on monitoring birds and seeing the decline. Peter spoke about three main projects:-
Our team went to Germany to collect Great cranes eggs from their reserve and bring them back to Slimbridge. They then put the cranes into individual pens to start then a commercial area. They eventually merge into an aviary as a social group. Introducing Great Cranes back into the wild is a way to try and connect people with wildlife.
In 2006 the Madagascar was on the IUCN red list for possible extinction. Then were then rediscovered in 2006 when 13 birds were found on a remote lake. With it being one of the poorest countries they were not allowed out of the country and ducklings were not surviving past 2 months old. Our team had to take the eggs before they hatched back to the nearest town. Eventually they started breeding in captivity, which is the first breed in captivity since the 1930’s. There are now 60 birds in the world. Locals have been trained to look after the ducks. However local hazards are still a problem such as the fires, food available for the birds. They are still very much dependent on help.
The Spoon-filled Sandpiper are from South East Asia and they have had a catastrophic decline. It is estimated that in 6/7 years to will be extinct. Due to decline in fish hunters were capturing the birds not realising they were under threat. Our team spent 3 months in South East Asia to retrieve eggs and hatch them on the main land. We are now allowed to take 20 eggs per year back to the UK and hatch them there. There are now 29 birds in the UK.
These three species of birds were in serious decline and thanks to our team and their skills we had managed to keep them from extinction.
