Blackpool Zoo Keepers Flying High!

First Eastern White Pelican since 2008 hatched in specialist incubator.

Bird keepers at Blackpool Zoo are feeling especially chirpy after welcoming the only Eastern White Pelican chick to be hatched in the UK since 2008, which will be the first ever to be hand-reared.

The occasion was made even grander as the tiny chick hatched just three hours prior to the birth of the Royal Princess. Excited keepers camped in the bird nursery for two days in anticipation of the very special bird and have been caring for it round the clock ever since. 
Pelican eggs are rare and with only an eight per cent fertility rate, they are also very difficult to breed. So when Blackpool Zoo announced its first pelican egg, keepers waited with baited breath, treating it like Royalty!

Still unsure of the baby bird’s sex until it is old enough to undergo DNA testing, keepers have chosen the unisex name Charlie – after the beautiful new addition to the Royal Family.
Blackpool Zoo’s Spanish sister attraction Faunia in Madrid, also hatched an Eastern White Pelican on the exact same date and the two teams of keepers are speaking and sharing information everyday.

Johnpaul Houston, Assistant Head Keeper at Blackpool Zoo, said: “As the birth of the Royal baby got closer and closer we started to wonder if any of our animals would join Kate in labour, so you can imagine our excitement when Charlie hatched at 5.30am – just three hours before the Princess.

“As Eastern White Pelican breeding is so rare in the UK, we really are giving the chick VIP treatment and waiting on it hand and foot. As well as hand rearing, we are also giving Charlie 30 minutes UV exposure each day to help bone growth.

“It is the first time an Eastern White Pelican chick has hatched in the UK since 2008, the last one, called Cyril, was the country’s first that we can find and still lives here at Blackpool Zoo. 
“Everyone at Blackpool Zoo would like to send huge congratulations to Kate, William and George on the new addition to their family.”

Keepers will continue to hand rear Charlie in the coming months and when the little one’s ready, Charlie will stay in a pen at the pelican beach where it can see the zoo’s nine other Eastern White Pelicans and be slowly introduced.

Eastern White Pelicans are the second largest species of pelican in the world and originate from southeast Europe, Asia and Africa. When adult sized, the birds have pure white feathers and their wingspan can grow to around 12 feet.

Ends

Picture shows: Little Charlie

More information about Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo announced record figures for the ninth consecutive year in 2014 as it continued with investment in facilities and attractions, introduces new species and enjoys success in international breeding programmes for endangered animals.

Visitor numbers, school visits and memberships were all up 10 per cent, on the previous year, which all led to a 10 per cent rise in revenue.

Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.

For further information please contact:
Paula Holden or Abi Blundell at ICG on 01772 679383 or email [email protected] or [email protected]

Out of office hours contact: Paula Holden on 07772268378