Whipsnade Zoo keeper helps release endangered birds back into wild

For the first time in 40 years, six sihek - also known as Guam kingfishers - are now officially living in the tropical forests of US territory Palmyra Atoll.

Sihek at Sedgewick County Zoo in America. (Image: ZSL) The birds’ successful release is the result of years of work by the sihek Recovery Program, a collaborative global programme designed to re-establish the species in their homeland in Guam wild for return to its homeland in Guam.

A total of nine young birds - four female and five male - were hand-reared for rewilding over several months at America's Sedgwick County Zoo, with help from zookeepers from numerous places including Whipsnade. 

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Although Whipsnade Zoo is not home to sihek, the team’s expertise in raising other rare and endangered birds gave them knowledge to support work the work this year.

Claire McSweeney, a Whipsnade Zoo bird keeper who travelled to Sedgewick County Zoo to hand-rear chicks for release, said: “It’s wonderful knowing that the birds are finally flying in Palmyra Atoll and making history as the first sihek in the wild in almost 40 years.

Bird keeper Claire McSweeney from ZSL's Whipsnade Zoo feeding Extinct in the Wild Guam Kingfisher. (Image: ZSL) "From hatching eggs to regular feeds, raising these birds from tiny helpless chicks to fully fledged adults with their beautiful blue and orange plumage is a long process."

She said it felt "incredible" to participate in the mission to not only bring them back to the wild but eventually to their original home in Guam.

The news provides a welcome boost for Whipsnade staff after its vets were left “heartbroken” when a rhino had to be put down earlier this month.

Palmyra Atoll, a US fish and wildlife refuge, was selected as the inaugural site for sihek to be released to the wild because it is invasive, predator-free and fully protected by the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

The release will help "refine and tailor" future releases and "monitoring techniques", organisers said, and is an important step towards returning sihek to their native home on Guam.