30 November 2005

Zoo Partnership Breeding Programme a Success

A critically endangered Campbell Island Teal egg from Wellington Zoo has successfully hatched at Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre, announced Wellington Zoo Bird Keeper, Chris Castles today.

Notoriously difficult to breed, Wellington Zoo's Campbell Island Teal pair produced two fertile eggs which were then transferred to Pukaha Mount Bruce to hatch as part of the captive breeding programme.

Wellington Zoo staff prepared the eggs for transportation to Pukaha Mount Bruce in a specially designed portable incubator.

"Live chicks cannot be transferred due to the risk of contamination so transporting fertilised eggs is the most efficient and effective way of helping to increase species numbers," added Chris.

"The incubator was loaned to the Zoo by Dominion Incubators; it is, pretty much, a modified chilly bin," says Chris.

One of the world's rarest ducks, the Campbell Island Teal duckling will be hand reared at Pukaha Mount Bruce as its parents remain at Wellington Zoo. The duckling will be readied for its release onto Sub-Antarctic Campbell Island in late 2006 with others bred at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

This is the third set of eggs from the Wellington Zoo pair to be successfully hatched since 2004 and as an organisation committed to conservation of endangered animals, the Zoo would like to continue to help boost the Campbell Island Teal population.

Wellington Zoo's Teals will remain at the Zoo to educate the public about this rare bird and to breed in future if needed.

ENDS

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