The animal conservation park is joining the international call to save the red-necked ostrich by forming one of Europe's few scientifically controlled breeding groups.
Human action has practically exterminated this peculiar species. of the largest and fastest running bird of which fewer than 1.000 specimens survive.
In the face of the alarming biodiversity loss, from committed institutions such as BIOPARC there is only one option: take action. And, furthermore, to do it now, because there is no time to lose. And to do it hand in hand with the conservation community following the scientific criteria with the aim of saving the most endangered species from extinction.
In this global vision of the preservation of our planet joining forces is essential, as well as paying attention to each species, since they are all essential to maintaining the balance in natureWith this objective, BIOPARC Valencia has received a male of red neck ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) to create controlled breeding group and contribute to prevent disappearance of this striking species thatand no longer exists in 99,8% of its original habitat in the north of Africa.
Recently, in a specialized transport Echo arrived from Vienna Zoo (Austria), a young male eight months old for pair up with Tana (one year and seven months) transferred from the Zoobotanical Garden of Jerez.
These movements are produced by Conservation Program Recommendation (EEP) which in 2011 formed the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) to the Worrying situation of the red-necked ostrich of which it is estimated that there are still less than 1.000 copies. In this way, BIOPARC joins the small number of 11 European parks that with great effort are achieving the slow but successful recovery of this peculiar subspecies.
Once again, if human action with indiscriminate hunting and the plundering of their enormous eggs has motivated the largest and fastest running bird to be in critical danger of extinction, paradoxically only human action can prevent it. In this sense, in addition to the direct conservation, education and awareness of society is essential.
In this line of action BIOPARC has become a great platform for mobilizing the population, bringing the beauty of wild nature to the city centre, recreating the wonderful places that we must protect with the aim of exciting and motivating the necessary change towards environmental protection.
The male ostrich is currently continuing its favorable acclimatization process, so it will soon be possible to see him with his partner and another female. (Struthio camelus) which has been in the park since 2019.
The large size of these animals stands out in the Spectacular multi-species enclosure from the savannah where they live with Baringo Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), impalas (Aepyceros melampus), blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi), water antelopes (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus) and birds like the african jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) or the sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus).
