The colony has now reached 50 individuals and continues to grow thanks to international collaboration.
The Alive Foundation has received this week two new northern bald ibis ( Geronticus eremita ) from the Vienna Zoo. The individuals arrived last Tuesday, January 20 at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Despite the storm “Harry”, the transfer was completed successfully and the birds are in perfect health.
Once their arrival in Catalonia from Vienna was complete, the northern bald ibis were quickly transferred to the aviary of the Alive Foundation project to ensure proper acclimatization. The Alive Foundation particularly highlights the work of Komodo Zoo Services, the company responsible for road transport, for the treatment and respect with which the animals traveled from Barcelona to the facilities in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park.
When they were introduced to the aviary, the two specimens from Vienna showed very different characters: one of them was very uninhibited and immediately began to fly and explore the space, while the other, more shy, walked out of its transport box, cautiously and timidly. However, both specimens have integrated perfectly with the rest of the group and are now active parts of the colony.
And after Vienna…
With these new additions, the colony of northern bald ibis located in the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà now has 50 individuals. In addition, two more ibis are expected to arrive next week from the GaiaZoo, in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, with the aim of gradually strengthening the group until it reaches almost 60 individuals.
This sustained growth is key to consolidating a viable and stable population of this emblematic species in our territory.
A population reinforcement project with a European vision
Alive Foundation is working to strengthen european populations of northern bald ibis ( Geronticus eremita ). As part of this project, specimens have been received from the Zoobotánico de Jerez and Waldrappteam, and currently new individuals from different European zoos.
All these individuals go through a phase of adaptation to the aviary before being gradually released in the spring, with the aim of beginning to establish a stable population in Aiguamolls de l’Empordà , thus contributing to the recovery of an endangered species and strengthening biodiversity in the territory.
