Bird extinct in the wild hatches four chicks at Algarve zoo – Portugal Resident
Lagos Zoo is celebrating the birth of four Socorro dove chicks, marking another important milestone in international efforts to save a bird species that is now extinct in the wild.
The Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) is listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning it survives only in conservation breeding programmes.
The hatchlings were born as part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Ex Situ Programme (EEP), which coordinates breeding efforts among zoos across Europe to maintain healthy populations and support the species’ long-term survival.
The Algarve zoo has played an increasingly important role in the programme. Over the past few years, it has successfully bred 12 Socorro doves, all of which have been transferred to other EAZA member zoos to establish new breeding pairs and strengthen the captive population.
The four new chicks are expected to follow the same path once fully grown, helping to safeguard the future of a species that has disappeared from its native habitat on Socorro Island, a small volcanic island off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of the Lagos Zoo team and highlights the importance of cooperation between zoos in protecting endangered wildlife,” the zoo said.
It added that every successful hatch represents “renewed hope for the future of a species that no longer exists in its natural habitat.”
