The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) recently released two chicks into the wild – a major achievement that could stem the bird’s decline in the kingdom.
“Releasing these two chicks is a huge milestone for the global conservation of this species,” Amber Flewitt, ACCB’s curator of ex-situ conservation, told Bernama.
“This is the first time that captive-bred greater adjutants have ever been released into the wild, and we are hoping this can pave the way for future releases of the species.”
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only 1,360 to 1,510 mature greater adjutants remain on the planet. Once widespread across South and Southeast Asia, the species is now largely confined to just two countries – India and Cambodia.
Cambodia is home to an estimated 200-250 mature individuals, while Northeast India hosts nearly 1,250.
The greater adjutant is described as having a “grotesque elegance” due to its striking features. Donning grey wings, it moves with its lanky legs and stands out with its bald head and long beak.
These bulky birds can stand up to about 1.5m and weigh nearly 5kg.
The IUCN classifies these storks as “near-threatened”, and their future survival would depend on successful conservation efforts like in Cambodia.
“The release of just two animals has boosted the population in Cambodia by 1%. Our team is closely monitoring the released birds via their GPS tracking devices, and this will allow us to get a better insight into the long-term success of this project,” said Flewitt.
Raising the chicks in captivity posed significant challenges for the conservation team at ACCB in Siem Reap.
“This is not something that has been successfully done anywhere before, meaning there were no guidelines or information to follow,” Flewitt noted.
“As the chicks’ parents were raised by humans in the illegal wildlife trade, they likely missed out on certain behavioural cues that they would usually learn from their parents, which ultimately go on to help them rear their own chicks later in life.”
The parents had several unsuccessful clutches before this pair, which successfully hatched late last year.
Flewitt said it is important to uphold other conservation measures, such as habitat protection and population monitoring, to safeguard their survival.
“This species has historically been heavily persecuted due to negative perceptions and misunderstandings. Therefore, effective community outreach is also vital to protect it.
“If natural habitats are preserved and populations don’t succumb to hunting pressures, then our released birds could go on to add significantly to this population over their lifetime.”