Animals
Rare offspring of birds in the Erfurt Zoo
Bali starlings are considered critically endangered. photo
© Holger Hollemann/dpa
Bali starlings are considered critically endangered. European zoos want to strengthen the population. There are now offspring in Erfurt.
In the zoo park Special chicks recently hatched in Erfurt: three young Bali starlings saw the light of day there in mid-March, as the zoo announced.
Bali starlings come from the Indonesian island of Bali and are considered critically endangered. According to the zoo, only a few dozen birds still live in the wild. European zoos therefore operate a breeding program to strengthen the population. Animals from the programs are brought to Indonesia and released into protected areas there. According to the information, around 140 zoos in Europe keep the animals.
The bird species is threatened by the destruction of its habitat and because of illegal animal trade. Adult Bali starlings have striking, snow-white plumage – they only have black spots on the wing and tail tips.