Zoo celebrating rare dove birth (BCC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A rare Mexican bird that died out in the wild in the 1970s has been successfully bred at London Zoo.

The Socorro dove is native to Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands, 600 miles off the west coast of Mexico.

The species was last sighted in Socorro in 1972 and there are now thought to be fewer than 100 in captivity.



The species died out after falling prey to a rising number of feral cats.

They were hunted by humans for food and overgrazing by sheep also destroyed much of their forest floor habitat.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6097346.stm

For some reason, they've named him Arnie, after the Governator. Is this because of his support for captive breeding? :shrug: I thought he had denied those stories.

[ewoden]

1. Shoot I thouht it said "Rove dirth"