Rare kittiwake bred in zoo first

A black-legged kittiwake, a bird species that is under threat in Britain, has been bred in captivity here for the first time. The species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature but the The Living Coasts zoo in Torquay has managed to produce a chick.

Keeper Lisa Jones said: “As far as I’m aware, we’re the only collection in the UK to hold and breed this species. Only a few collections in the world have this bird.”

Living Coasts is working with the Taxon Advisory Group, which manages conservation of similar species, to learn more about kittiwakes in zoos. Ms Jones said: “This species used to be common around the world, but this year their status has changed to vulnerable due to a severe population decline...climate change has reduced their food supplies, so breeding success and adult survival rates have dropped.”