Name: Rare bird species thrives in Morocco after successful breeding program
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T08:40:32.505Z
Duration: 2 min 14 s
Description: The rare northern bald ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, has been revived by breeding and rewilding efforts in Rabat

The rare northern bald ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, has been revived by breeding and rewilding efforts in Rabat

Marrakesh

The northern bowed ibis, a rare bird species once hunted to near extinction by the 17th century, has seen its population increase at the National Zoological Garden of Rabat. Conservation measures, including specialized breeding environments and veterinary care, have enabled the zoo to grow its population from 20 rescued birds in 2015 to 40 individuals.

Staff at the zoo replicate natural breeding conditions, provide daily feeding, and monitor the birds' health closely. Once deemed ready, the birds are gradually released into the wild to help strengthen the species' population and ensure its long-term survival.

Rare bird species thrives in Morocco after successful breeding program

Inside the National Zoological Garden of Rabat, the rare northern bowed ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, has been revived thanks to breeding and rewilding efforts. At the level of the National Zoological Garden, we take a number of precautions to conserve and breed this species. In 2015, we rescued a group of birds in distress. About 20 birds were recovered, and thanks to the efforts of the zoological veterinary teams, we were able to breed them. We currently have 40 individuals. The staff replicated their breeding environment by dedicating areas for mating and reproduction, with branches placed to help the birds build their nests. We feed the birds once a day, in addition to providing vitamins to stimulate breeding behaviour which begins at the end of March. Egg hatching occurs at the beginning of June, and each pair can raise one to two chicks. At the zoo, the birds spend time perched on trees, surrounded by an enclosure, and protective netting to stop them from leaving or coming into contact with other migratory birds. We have aviaries that are exposed to migratory and wild birds. Accordingly, in collaboration with the competent authorities, we carry out a number of disease screenings and remain under continuous veterinary surveillance to monitor pathologies that may appear in neighbouring or European countries. Once the birds are considered ready and capable of adapting, they are gradually released into the wild as part of a programme aimed at strengthening the population and ensuring their survival.

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