Lagos Zoo celebrates Portugal’s first southern ground hornbill birth

Lagos Zoo has become the first zoological institution in Portugal to successfully breed a southern ground hornbill, marking a significant milestone for the conservation of one of Africa’s most threatened bird species.

The chick is the first southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) ever born in Portugal and represents the culmination of 17 years of work by the zoo’s animal care team, which has looked after the breeding pair since they first arrived at the Algarve attraction, the zoo says in a press statement.

The species is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with wild populations under pressure from habitat loss, persecution and other human-related threats.

According to Lagos Zoo, the successful hatching is an important contribution to international breeding programmes designed to safeguard the species and maintain genetically healthy populations under human care.

The chick is reported to be healthy and remains under the care of its parents, while being closely monitored each day by the zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams.

“This milestone reinforces the zoo’s commitment to wildlife conservation and highlights the vital role modern zoos play in protecting endangered species for future generations,” Lagos Zoo says.

Southern ground hornbills are the largest species of hornbill in the world and are native to the savannahs and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa. Unlike most hornbills, they spend much of their time on the ground, where they forage for insects, reptiles and small mammals.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.