The challenging task of breeding green peafowls
ANIMAL keepers at Bandung Zoological Garden in West Java revealed that breeding green peafowls, a species listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, was not an easy matter due to their fragile nature.
Gilang Ihsan, who has been working at the park for a year to take care of the birds, said only a small portion of peafowl eggs produced in the zoo would hatch into chicks, despite being monitored carefully during incubation.
Just recently, only two out of the total 14 eggs incubated since August have managed to hatch out – bringing the zoo’s collection of peafowls up to 23.
Eight of the eggs failed to come out of the shells, while the remaining four are still being incubated.
“The incubator temperature must be maintained at 37°C and the humidity has to be around 60%,” Gilang said. “Hopefully the remaining four will hatch too.”
Bandung Zoological Garden bird curator Panji Ahmad Fauzan said breeding the endangered species was challenging because even adult peafowls could suddenly die for no apparent reason.
The rate may reach 50%, he said, adding that the zoo management had conducted regular evaluations to ensure the birds’ well-being.
The green peafowl is a species native to the tropical forests of South-East Asia.
The last strongholds for the species are located in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia’s island of Java, with the remaining population estimated to range between 5,000 and 10,000.
Male peafowls, or peacocks, are known for their beautiful tail feathers that form a big round shape when raised, symbolising their authority over a particular territory.