A UK zoo is celebrating a major win in bird conservation after helping to hatch three blue-eyed ground dove chicks in Brazil. This species, once thought lost to history, counts only 11 individuals remaining in the wild, and these new chicks boost the insurance population for a bird on the brink of extinction. British experts from Chester Zoo joined forces with Brazilian and American conservationists to incubate wild-laid eggs in Minas Gerais, the only place these doves are found. Head of birds Andrew Owen traveled to Brazil to provide technical support, while lead keeper Victoria Kaldis assisted with the delicate hand-rearing process.
The initiative, led by Parque das Aves and SAVE Brasil with support from US zoos, now ensures six blue-eyed ground doves are in human care under a coordinated breeding plan. Each successful hatch offers fresh hope for reversing the species’ decline caused by habitat loss in the Brazilian savanna. Conservation director Paloma Bosso described the arrival of these chicks as “exciting” and “a real chance to reverse the fate of this species.” With continued collaboration, this breakthrough could help ensure the dove’s song will once again echo across the Cerrado.