One of the rarest birds in the world has been released
back into the wild, with help from conservationists from Chester Zoo.
Illegal poaching of the Bali
starling reduced its native population to an estimated six birds in 2001.
Conservation breeding efforts on the Indonesian island
have seen a small recovery to between 50 and 115.
Dr Roger Wilkinson, Chester Zoo's head of field
conservation and research, said it was a "momentous moment".
He said the release of four pairs was the first time the
birds had been introduced into the wild in central Bali .
"The area was specially picked as it was well
protected and had staff able to monitor the rare birds," he said.
"Quite a crowd turned out as most people local to the
area had never seen a live Bali starling
before."
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