The renewed spring social show of the Debrecen Zoo was expanded this year with a number of special duck species that have never been kept before, including representatives of highly endangered taxa of significant nature conservation value. Most recently, three Bernier ducks arrived on November 26; the two gerbils come from the Mulhouse Zoo in France and one laying hen from the Zurich Zoo. Visitors can also view the newcomers before retiring to their winter accommodation. The zoo hopes the institution will be able to report on successful reproduction in the future.
The endemic tern (Anas Bernieri), endemic to the west coast of Madagascar, is a relatively small teal species, presumably derived from an isolated population of the white-throated teal prevalent in Australasia. Scientific and common name of Chevalier Bernier XIX. It was obtained from a 19th-century French ship’s physician and naturalist who loved to collect specimens of native species during his voyage to Madagascar. Due to deforestation and food hunting, its stock has declined dramatically and is listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List and listed in CITES Appendix II. also in the Annex.
Fortunately, the species reproduces well in human care, so zoos have played a key role in its conservation since the 1990s; the first large-scale breeding program is named after the Jersey Zoo founded by Gerald Durrell. It is a real rarity in Hungary because outside Debrecen it can only be found in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden.
– dr. Gergely Sándor Nagy, Managing Director –
