Seven critically endangered birds, including one of the most threatened in Southeast Asia, the White-shouldered Ibis, were released into the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary’s Tmatboey Community Protected Area yesterday after being reared in captivity.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the society, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, the Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) and the Tmatboey Community Eco-tourism Center, released an endangered White-shouldered Ibis along with three Spotted Wood-owls, two Crested Serpent-eagles and one Brown Fish-owl.
Michael Meyerhoff, the ACCB curator, said the White-shouldered Ibis was underweight when it arrived at the ACCB, forcing staff at the center to rear the bird with minimal human interaction behind closed doors.
After regular meals of insects, fish and frogs, the bird gained enough weight to feed itself, Mr. Meyerhoff added.
“As soon as the ibis had gained sufficient weight and was flying strongly we coordinated closely with WCS to find a suitable location for its release, near to where it was originally found. We released it near a pond in an area of forest that would provide the bird with food and shelter,” said Mr. Meyerhoff.
In May this year, the ibis was found by local community members of the Tmatboey Community Protected Area.
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