Abilene Zoo welcomes birth of rare secretary chick
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Abilene Zoo announced the arrival of a rare secretary chick earlier this month.
The second born of parents Pam and Jagger, this chick’s gender and name remains unknown at this time. The zoo welcomed Pam and Jagger’s first offspring, Stan, last year.
Abilene Zoo welcomes 2 African Striped Hyenas
“They are part of a breeding loan program with the Denver Zoo, which means we collaborate to breed and maintain a genetically diverse population of endangered species. In this arrangement, both zoos contribute to the breeding efforts, and the offspring produced are shared between the institutions,” stated Matthew Strong, Zoo Registrar.
The zoo said secretary birds are rare in zoos, and ours is one of only 12 in North Amerca to house them.
Secretary birds are known for their appearance and behaviors- with large black feathers resembling a headdress and known to hunt their food on foot. These birds are native to southern and central Africa, and are “known for their role as snake-eating raptors.”
Brownwood woman fills community need for wildlife center
“Over the last 12 months, only San Diego, San Antonio, and Abilene have bred 5 chicks total,” remarked Phillip Nigro, Animal Care Supervisor. “Being a part of that means that we help secure the population of secretary birds for future generations.”
This secretary bird chick was born Saturday, April 6 and has been spending time in their nest on exhibit.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
